IMAGE  EVALUATIOM 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


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'"■  IM    IIIII2.2 


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Photographic 

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Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  canadien  de  microreproductions  historiques 


vV 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


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the  usual  method  uf  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


0 


D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagee 

Covers  restored  and/or  larrJnated/ 
Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  pellicul6e 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  cr^uverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  g6ographiqu3S  en  couleur 


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Encre  de  couleur  {i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

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□    Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

□    Pages  damaged/ 
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I      I    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 


V 


0 


Pages  restaurSes  et/ou  pellicul^es 

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Pages  d^color^es,  tachet^es  ou  piqu^es 


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obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


1 
s 
1 

V 

d 

6 

b 

ri 
n 
n 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmd  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqud  ci-dessous. 


1GX 


14X 


18X 

y 


22X 


12X 


16X 


20X 


26X 


30X 


n 


24X 


28X 


32X 


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to  the  generosity  of: 

D.  8.  Weldon  Library 
University  of  Western  Ontario 

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beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
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firr.t  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
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The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
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L'exemplaire  filmd  fut  reproduit  grSce  d  la 
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D.  B.  Weldon  Library 
University  of  Western  Ontario 

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conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

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dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film6s  en  commengant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  •—•-  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  'FIN  ". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
film6s  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diff6rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich6,  il  est  film6  d  partir 
de  Tangle  supSrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  6  droite, 
et  de  haiit  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  n^cetssaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mSthode. 


i 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

w 


w 


1 


LAKE  GEORGE 


AND 


LAKE   CHAMPLAIN, 


FROM   THEIR 


j^IRST     piSCOYERY     TO      I739. 


Vou  are  unnecessarily  severe,  sir.     It  is  not  the  business  of  a  historian 

he  w^r  '"ir',"""  ""'''.'  *"P«S'-^P'"<='-'1  ^"'■vey  of  the  country  about  which 
ne  ^^..tes.  Ah  that  you  have  a  right  to  expect  of  him  is,  tliat  he  shall  faith- 
fully collect  together  and  chronicle  all  the  existing  facts." 

FOREST  ARCADIA. 


BY    B.    C.    BUTLER. 


ALBANY : 
WEED,    PARSONS    AND    CO., 

PRINTERS   AND   STEREOTYPERS. 
1868. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  18(58,  by 

B.    C.    BUTLER, 

In  the  Cleric's  Office  of  the  D' strict  Court  of  the  United  States 

for  the  Northern  District  of  New  York. 


XCd^^*^ 


INTRODUCTION. 


By  a  careful  reading  of  the  French  and  English  official 
accounts,  as  they  arc  placed  side  by  side  in  that  marvel 
of  historic  wealth,  known  as  the  Documentary  and 
Colonial  History  of  New  York,  we  arrive  at, a  proper 
knowledge  of  events,  which  had  either  been  wrongly 
located,  or  exaggerated,  or  obscured.  The  author  has 
made  this  the  foundation  of  the  following  narrative.  He 
also  acknowledges  his  indebtedness  to  Bancroft,  Kip, 
Bell,  Trumbull,  Headley,  Graham,  Sparks, 
Watson,  Fitch,  Van  Courtland,  the  delightful 
writer  of  the  life  and  times  of  Sir  William  Johnson, 
the  eloquent  author  of  Hochalaga — "and  the  authorities 
there  cited,"  not  omitting  the  amiable  Dr.  O'Callaghan 
ever  ready  to  assist  the  anxious  inquirer  after  truth.  As 
far  as  practicable,  he  has  endeavored  to  give  the  very 
language  of  the  time,  thereby  rendering  more  life-like 
the  scenes  delineated  here,  than  he  would  have  been 
able  to  do  in  any  other  manner. 

To  those  whose  inclinations  take  them  over  and 
through  these  gate-ways  of  the  country,  the  guide  books 
furnish  accurate  and  reliable  information.  The  railroad 
to  Fort  Edward,  and  thence  the  stage-coach,  even  now 
being  supplanted  by  the,' steam-car  to  Glen's  Falls  or 
from  Saratoga  via  the  Adirondac  or  Wilderness  railroad 


INTRODUCTION. 


to  the  romantic  hills  of  Luzerne,  thence  by  coach  eleven 
miles  over  the  Indian  trail  to  the  head  of  the  Lake ;  these 
are  the  routes  from  the  South.  On  the  North,  coming 
from  Mt.  Mansfield,  Stowc,  the  Green  Mountains, 
Adirondacks,  Montreal,  the  lines  of  travel  converge  to 
Burlington,  Rouse's  Point,  or  the  inimitable  Foquets, 
on  the  Plattsburgh  battle  ground.  At  eiihei  of  these 
points,  taking  the  fine  steamers  of  the  Lake  Champlain 
company,  the  traveler  passing  "through  by  daylight" 
looks  upon  the  scenes  replete  with  historic  lore.  Cum- 
berland Head,  Burlington  Bay,  Split  Rock  (Rock 
Regio),  Chimney  Point,  Crown  Point,  Mount  Defiance 
and  Ticondcroga,  furnish  each  their  story  of  interesting 
events  in  early  American  history. 

From  the  latter  place  the  transition  is  easy,  across  the 
"carrying  place,"  and  through  the  intrenchments  of 
IVIontcalm,  to  the  hmpM  Lake  George,  on  whxch  the 
Alinnchaha,  under  the  direction  of  Captain  Harris, 
like  a  shuttlecock,  each  day  faithfully  plies  its  vocation 
to  and  from  the  laughing  waters  of  Carillon,  and  the 
grass-grown  ruins  of  Fort  William  Henry. 

The  hotels  dotted  in  here  and  there,  like  so  many 
icebergs  set  in  a  background  of  emerald,  furnish 
unexceptionable  comfort  to  the  sojourner. 

Every  American,  at  least  once  in  his  life,  should  visit 
Lake  George  and  Lake  Champlain,  and  view  for  him- 
self the  scenes  made  historic  by  the  events  imperfectly 
described  in  the  following  pages. 

B.  C.  B. 

Luzerne,  June,  1868. 


INDEX. 


PAOR. 

Abcrcromble, !!)•,»,  ii' 

Aix-la-Chapcllc,  peace  of,  ....    65 

Amliernt,  Lord, 232 

Angoll,  Capt., 138 

Bnubassin, 65 

Blanchard,  Col.  Jonhua, 113 

Bloody  Pond 126 

Boiirlemaque, 159,  238 

Bradsitreet, 215,  223,  227 

British  claim  of  country, 15 

Cai)a{,'hsionc  (Two  Kocks),  ...    3:1 

Carillon 211,  238 

Cartier 11 

Cliamplain, 11, 15 

Chinanderoga, 35 

Corloar, 20 

Columbiere, 143 

Conochquicpie, 104 

Council  of  the  Indians  at  Al- 
bany,      72 

Council  of  the  Indians  at  Fort 

Johnson, 87 

Corbierie,  1.56 

Crown  Point, 54,  244 

CruynPunt 33 

Dollinp,  God.'"rey 16 

De  Carqulville 57,  62 

De  Courcelles'  expedition, ...     19 

De  Joumonville,  72 

De  Ti-accy's  expedition, 20 

DononviJIe, 22 

Dieskau, 115,  123 

Dooliiik',  Captain, 130 

1* 


PAGE. 

Expedition  against  Fort  Wil- 
liam Henry, 151 

Eyre,  Captain, 110 

First  American  Congress  1600,    27 

Fletcher,  (iovoruor, 43 

Fonda,  Jelles, 131 

Fort  Amherst,  235 

Fort  Ann, 30,  49 

Fort  Clinton 57,  64 

Fort  Edwa'f'. 30,  110 

Fort  Fron«enac, 228 

FortMilkT 20,  1)9 

Fort  >  icholson, 49 

Fort  Orange 37 

Fort  St.  Frederick 51,  240 

Fort  William  Ilenrj', 129,  140 

Four-mile  post, 228,  233 

Frontenac, 37 

Gahvay .    40 

Gatienonde, 61 

Gebault, 11 

Glenn,  Captain  Sanders,. ..  24,  31 

Greenfield  Center, 40 

Haviland.  Colonel, 196 

Half-way  brook, 22.8,  235 

Hebecourt, liU,  239 

Ilendrick,    50,  80,  119,  127 

Ilocquart 242 

Howe,  Lord  George, 197 

Ingoldsbey,  Major, 39 

Irocoisia, 16 

Iroquois  expedition,  1687, 23 

Johnson,  Sir  William, 03,  87 


G 


INDEX. 


TACK. 

KaghBwiiRhtions  (Red  Ilond),    SM) 
Kanonloro  (The  \arrowH),  ...     33 

Kayaderospcras,  70 

Kryn, 23 

La  t'oriic,   57,  290 

Lake  (JoorKe,  expedition  to,. .  107 

La  Prairie, 33,  35 

La  Salle, 22 

f.iHidonnierc, 11 

Little,  Captain, li)4 

Luzerne, frt 

Lydiua,  John  Henry,  .  Ifi,  105,  109 

Marin 65,  150, 155,  230 

Maurepas, 54 

Montcalm, 151 

Monroe,  Colonel  George 172 

Nlcholi?on, 48,  51 

Nicklas 138 

Norniauds, iO 

Ogharonde  (Wind  Mill  Point),    33 

Osvvegatchie, 09 

Parker,  Colonel  John, 157 

Putnam,  Israel,  133,  136,  140,  207, 

230 

Quackcnboss,  Cybrant, 155 

Read  Captain, 130 

Rcgaud  de  V'audreuil, 03 

Rc^'io  Rock  (Regiochne), .  10,  24-2 

Repeutigny, 50,  63 

Right  of  France, 10 

Rogers,  Robert,.  132, 135, 141,  144 

Rogerg 195,  230 

Rtithcrford,  Major  John, 901 

Ryswick  peace, 47 

Saratoga  lake  (Kayadcroga),.     34 
Saraghtoga  fort, 48,  55 


PAOR. 

Scale  of  prices, 18 

Schenectady,  maBsacre  of, ... .    24 

Schuyler.  John, 32,  3.3,  39,  49 

Schuyler,  Peter,..  25,  29,  :U,  39,  48 
Seneca  Indians'  expedition,..    22 

St.  Helcnc 23 

St.  Sacrament  lake,    35,  37,  42.  63, 

114 

St.  Pierre 70 

St.  Oura 15-t 

Staato,  JJarent, BO 

Stark,  John 144,  140 

Stillwater 29 

Skcenc,  Philip 2(0 

Syms,  Captain, 133 

Tenacharison, 70 

Thoday,  Michael 139 

Thompson,  Sergeant, 140 

Ticonderoga,. . .  31,  Al,  35,  143,  217 

TioiHlcrosa  (Fort  Hunter) 38 

Townnhend,  Colonel, 2.39 

Two  Rocks 149 

Utrecht,  peace  of, 52 

Valrenne, 36 

Van  Epi>s, 39 

Vaudreuil, 49 

Vcrazzani, 11 

Washington,  George, 70 

Webb,  Gen.  Daniel 106 

Whitehall 30,  35 

Williams,  Col.  E.  P.  11.,..  115,  123 

Winslow,  Colonel  Seth, 131 

Wilton 40 

Winthrop,  Fitz  John, 28,  32 

Wood  creek, 50 

Young,  Colonel  John, 180 


,-i'-i..'diw.''/^ 


CHAPTER  I. 


From  the  DisrovEuv  of  the  couNTnv  to  IfiOO  — TOENcn  claims  — 

KARI.Y  NAVIOATOIia  — BIllTISH  CLAIMS  — DK  COlIlCEI.LEfe'  EXI'EDI- 
TION  — DK  TUACEY,  LA  SALLE,  MAUQUETTB  AND  IIKNNEriN  — AN 
ATTACK  OP  THE  SENECA9  —  lUniTTION  OK  THE  IIlOQfOIS  —  ATTACK 
OP  THE  MOHAWKS  ON  CHAMBLAY  —  DE  ST.  HELENE  —  ULIININO  OP 
8CUENECTAUY  — FIU3T  AiJERICAN  CONGRESS  IN  1090. 

Jl  AT  eventful  ineniories  duster  around 
thy  lioiiry  hills,  Lake  Georgk  !  They 
are  inter\vo\xr.>vitli  the  earliest  history 
of  our  heloved  country,  rcachinf!;  far 
back  to  the  time  when  truth  vanishes  into  tra- 
dition. Forts  William  Henry  and  Carillon,  the 
salients  of  the  two  most  powerful  and  most 
civilized  nations  of  the  globe,  over  whose 
Bcarp  and  counterscarp  nature  has  thrown  her 
protecting  mantle  of  forest  and  turf —  venerable 
in  your  ruins,  ye  stand  at  either  gateway  of 
these  classic  waters,  monuments  of  a  heroic 
age,  and  of  the  wrestlings  of  giants  for  the  pos- 
session of  a  continent. 

Beneath  your  shadow  the  bones  of  thousands 
lie  in  unrecognized  though  honorable  dust,  while 
every  glen,  bay,  island  and  mountain,  furnishes 
some  legend  which  has  made  their  names  house- 
hold words  in  American  homes. 


8 


LAKE   QEOROE   AND 


To-day  tlic  shores  of  Horicoii  fiiriiisli  fnsliion- 
able  resorts  for  tlie  refined  or  the  curious,  ^vll0 
basic  away  tiieir  summer  liours,  perliaps  careless 
or  ifj;noniiit  of  tlio  j^reat  events  tliat  once  trans- 
pired  beneatli  tlieir  feet  or  witliin  tlieir  vision. 
Yet  tlie  possession  of  tliese  jdaces  lias  engaged 
the  attention  of  kings,  cabinets  and  parliaments. 
The  best  blood  of  two  great  nations  lias  been 
freely  sjient,  and  millions  of  treasure  expended, 
for  their  conquest  and  defense. 

Armies  have  crossed  each  other's  tracl:  upon 
the  ocean,  and  have  pursued  strange  and  varied 
paths  on  lake  and  river,  and  through  forest,  to 
struggle  for  their  possession.  Tribes  of  red  men 
from  the  far  north  and  the  far  south,  marshaled  by 
civilized  genius,  have  met  in  hostile  array  under 
their  walls,  and  around  their  base.  Rival  and 
foreign  flags  have  waved  alternately  over  their 
battlements.  A  thousand  burj-les  liave  called  bar- 
monious  echoes  from  the  mountains,  while  High- 
landers from  McGregor's  clan,  Indian  chieftains, 
royal  regiments  commanded  by  high-born  noble- 
men, mingled  with  the  sons  of  the  Green  Moun- 
tain and  the  Connecticut  and  N^ew  Jersey  valleys, 
have  answered  to  their  call.  Thy  peaceful  shore 
has  seen  the  course  of  carnage  and  misery, 
the  butchery  of  the  tomahawk,  the  wasting  of 
a  siege,  the  wretchedness  of  woman.      It  has 


LAKE  rilAMPLAIX. 


9 


witncr^sed  the  feast  of  human  tlesli,  for  wlilcli 
these  (lemons  had  pre])arod  tljcmselvcs  hy  drink 
from  skulls  fresh  filled  witli  blood.  It  has  heard 
the  soft  voiec  of  the  Jesuit  priest,  as  with 
reverenee  he  ehvated  the  host  and  performed 
tlie  most  sacred  and  ancient  rites  known  \o  tho 
reliirious  world.  It  has  listened  to  the  sinjjrlo 
prayer  offered  for  the  whole  people  by  the  ven- 
erable chaplain  of  Massachusetts,  while  the  de- 
scendants of  the  Puritans  stood  up  uncovered. 
Il  i  as  seen  the  simple  rites  of  Indian  sacrifice  of 
first  iruxLa  to  the  Great  Manitou,  while  the  forest 
orator  narangued  liis  brethren  on  the  blessings 
of  that  heaven  which  cowards  could  not  enter. 

Protestant  and  Catholic,  English  and  French, 
white  and  red  men,  the  rifle,  the  tomahawk,  the 
cannon  and  scalping  knife,  the  keel  boat  and 
canoe,  noble  and  base  born,  extremes  the  most 
opposite,  passions  the  most  violent,  have  met 
and  struggled  here  for  the  mastery. 

They  fought  for  the  possession  of  a  continent 
reaciiirg  from  the  frozen  zone  to  the  tropics — 
extending  from  ocean  to  ocean — and  in  com- 
parison to  which  the  domain  of  either  power 
was  but  "  a  patch  upon  the  earth's  surface." 

All,  all  are  gone  now.  From  out  the  ashes 
a  third  ]-)ower  has  arisen  to  which  the  Rod  Cross 
of  England  and  the  Lily  of  France  are  alike 


10 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


indifferent.  From  mountain  to  mountain  the 
American  eagle  utters  the  scream  of  Liberty. 
Love  in  its  purity,  friendship  in  its  fiiithfulness, 
are  reflected  from  tlie  placid  bosom  of  the  lake. 
The  early  industry  of  freemen  is  upon  its  bor- 
ders, and  the  morning  sun-beams,  which  drink 
the  dew-drops  from  the  flowers  on  the  hill-tops, 
catch  also  the  sounds  which  thrill  the  heart  of 
hunumity,  and  proclaim  the  tidings  of  equal 
freedom  fur  the  race. 

A  proper  history  of  this  interesting  locality 
is  incomplete  without  embracing  the  entire  sec- 
tion of  country  from  Xova  Scotia  around  to  the 
Ohio.  Such  is  too  comprehensive  for  this  work. 
It  will  be  limited  to  an  account  of  what  occurred 
between  Chamblay  and  the  Mohawk  Valley. 
Even  then  the  fear  is,  that  it  will  be  too  prolix 
for  the  reader. 

The  right  of  France  to  the  country  of  the 
Iroquois,  which  embraced  in  part  the  vallcj's  of 
Lake  Champlain  and  St.  Sacrament,  was  based 
on  an  established  maxim  existing  among  Euro- 
pean nations,  that  the  first  discoverers  who 
planted  the  arras  of  their  government  upon 
aboriginal  soil  acquired  thereby  the  property  of 
that  country  for  their  respective  nation. 

In  1504,  Normauds  discovered  the  bank  of 
Xewfoundland. 


^■ 


LAKE   CIIAMrLAIX. 


11 


111  1523,  ill  viriiic  of  a  commission  from 
Francis  I,  Jean  Yerazzani  tooli  possession  of 
"  all  the  territory  between  Florida  and  Hudson's 
Bay." 

In  1534,  James  Cartier,  at  the  inlet  of  Gaspe, 
raised  a  lofty  cross  which  bore  a  shield  with  the 
French  arms  and  an  appropriate  inscription. 
He  thence  disco\ered  the  great 'river  of  St. 
Lawrence,  and  sailed  xip  its  channel  till  he  could 
discern  land  on  either  side.* 

In  1535,  Gebault  and  Landonniere,  having 
gone  to  Florida  by  authority  of  Charles  IX,  ''to 
inhabit  and  cultivate  the  countrv,"  founded  the 
Carolinas,  and  built  a  fort  on  the  May  river, 
which  they  called  Fort  Charles  —  now  Charles- 
town. 

In  1C03,  eleven  years  before  the  landiui!*  of 
the  Pilgrims,  Samuel  Champlain  Avas  in  com- 
mand of  the  Canadian  colony.  In  1G09  he  dis- 
covered Lake  Champlain,t  Lake  St.  Sacrament, 
and,  as  he  says,  went  as  far  as  the  country  of 
the  Iroquois. 


*  Bancroft. 

f  The  Indian  name  of  Lake  Champlain  is  Oinadire 
Quarante,  "  The  lake  that  is  the  gato  of  the  country."  "  Kan- 
gatare  "  is  the  Mohawk  name  for  lake. 


12 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


Concerning  the  first  encounter  of  the  Indians 
with   the  whites,   between   Lake   George    and 

Crown  Point,  Champlain  says : 

"  I  left  the  rapids  of  the  river  of  the  Iroquois  on  the  2d  of 
July,  1609.  All  the  savages  began  carrying  their  canoes, 
arms  and  traps  overland,  about  a  league  and  a  half,  to  avoid 
the  current  and  force  of  the  rapids.  This  was  quickly 
effected.  They  re\newed  all  their  force  and  found  24  canoes 
with  GO  men.  After  having  completed  their  review,  wo 
continued  our  journey  as  far  as  an  island,  three  leagues 
long,  covered  with  the  finest  j)ines  I  ever  beheld. 

"On  coming  within  two  or  three  days'  journey  of  the 
enemy's  quarters,  we  traveled  only  by  night  and  rested  by 
day.  Nevertheless,  they  never  omitted  their  usual  super- 
stitions to  ascertain  whether  their  enterprise  would  be  suc- 
cessful, and  often  asked  me  whether  I  had  dreamed  and 
seen  their  enemies.  I  answered,  no  ;  and  encouraged  them, 
anf^  gave  them  good  hopes.  Night  fell,  and  we  continued 
o\ir  journey  until  morning,  when  we  withdrew  into  the 
picket  fort,  which  they  had  built,  to  pass  the  remainder  of 
the  day  there.  About  ten  or  eleven  o'clock  I  laid  down, 
after  having  walked  some  time  around  our  quarters,  and, 
falling  asleep,  I  thought  I  beheld  our  enemies,  the  Iroquois, 
drowning  within  sight  of  us  in  the  lake  near  a  mountain ; 
and,  being  desirous  to  save  them,  that  our  savage  allies  told 
me  that  I  must  let  them  all  perish,  as  they  were  good  for 
nothing.  On  awaking  tliey  did  not  fail,  as  usual,  to  ask  mo 
if  I  had  any  dream.  I  told  them,  in  fact,  what  I  had 
dreamed.  It  gained  such  credit  among  them  that  they  no 
longer  doubted  but  they  should  meet  with  success. 

"  At  nightfall  we  embarked  in  our  canoes  to  continue  our 
journey,  and,  as  we  advanced  very  softly  and  noiselessly, 
we  encoimtered  a  war  party  of  Iroquois  on  the  29th  of  the 
month,  about  ten  o'clock  at  night,  at  the  point  of  a  cape 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIX. 


13 


which  puts  into  the  lake  on  thf  west  pido.  They  and  we 
bejxan  to  shout,  each  soizinff  his  arms.  We  withdrew 
toward  the  water,  and  tlie  Iroquois  repaired  on  sliore  and 
arranged  all  their  canoes,  the  one  boblde  the  other,  and 
began  to  hew  down  trees,  M'ith  villainous  axes,  which  they 
Bometimes  got  in  war,  and  others  of  stone,  and  fortified 
themselves  very  securely. 

"Our  party,  likewise,  kept  their  canoes  arranged  tlie  one 
alongside  the  other,  tied  to  poles  so  as  not  to  run  adrift,  in 
order  to  fight  all  together,  should  need  be.  Wo  were  on 
the  water  about  an  arrow-shot  from  their  barricades.  When 
they  were  armed  and  in  order,  they  sent  two  canoes  from 
the  fleet  to  know  if  their  enemies  wished  to  fight ;  who 
answered  they  "desired  nothing  else,"  but  that  just  then 
there  was  not  much  light,  and  we  must  wait  for  day  to  dis- 
tinguish each  other,  and  that  they  would  give  us  battle  at 
sunrise.  This  was  agreed  to  by  our  party.  Meanwhile  the 
whole  night  was  spent  in  dancing  and  singing,  as  well  on 
one  side  as  on  the  other,  mingled  with  an  infinitude  of 
insults  and  other  taunts,  such  as  the  little  courage  they 
had,  how  powerless  their  resistance  against  their  arms,  and 
that  when  day  would  break,  they  should  experience  this  to 
their  ruin.  Ours,  likewise,  did  not  fail  in  repartee  ;  telling 
them  they  should  witness  the  effects  of  arms  they  had  never 
seen  before,  and  a  multitude  of  other  speeches  as  is  usual 
at  a  siege  of  a  town.  After  the  one  and  the  other  had  sung, 
danced  and  parliampnted  enough,  day  broke.  My  com- 
panions and  I  Avere  always  concealed,  for  fear  the  enemy 
should  see  us,  preparing  our  arms  tlie  best  we  could,  being, 
however,  separated,  each  in  one  of  the  canoes.  After  being 
equipped  with  light  armor,  we  took  each  an  arquebus  and 
went  ashore.  I  saw  the  enemy  leave  their  barricade  ;  they 
were  about  200  men,  of  strong  and  robust  appearance,  who 
were  coming  slowly  toward  us,  with  a  gravity  and  as'^ur- 
ance  which  greatly  pleased  mo,  led  on  by  three  ch 
2 


:  i 


i     ! 


i  ! 


til 


14 


LAKE   GEOKGE   AND 


Ours  worn  marching  in  similar  order,  and  told  me  that 
those  who  bore  throe  lofty  plumes  were  the  chiefs,  and  that 
there  were  but  these  thrr  i,  id  they  were  to  be  recognized 
by  thopo  plumes  w'.iich  v. ere  considerably  larger  than  those 
of  their  cnmpanJons,  ani^  that  I  must  do  all  I  could  to  kill 
them,  I  promised  to  do  it  I  could,  and  that  I  was  very 
sorry  they  could  not  clearlv  understand  me,  so  as  to  give 
them  the  order  and  plan  of  nttaclsing  their  enemies,  as.  we 
should  indubitably  defeat  them  a'l  ;  but  there  was  no  help 
for  that ;  that  I  was  very  glad  to  encourage  them,  and  to 
manifest  to  them  my  good  will  when  we  should  be  engaged. 

"The  moment  we  landed,  they  began  to  run  about  two 
hundred  paces  toward  their  enemies,  who  stood  firm,  and 
had  not  yet  perceived  my  companions,  who  went  into  the 
bush  with  some  savages.  Ours  commenced  calling  me  in  a 
loud  voice,  and,  making  way  for  me,  opened  in  two,  and 
placed  me  at  their  head,  marching  about  twenty  paces  in 
advance  until  I  was  within  thirty  paces  of  the  enemy. 

"  The  moment  they  saw  me  they  halted,  gazing  at  me  and 
I  at  them.  When  I  saw  them  preparing  to  shoot  at  us,  I 
raised  my  arquebus,  and  aiming  directly  at  one  of  the  three 
chiefs,  two  of  them  foil  to  the  ground  by  this  shot,  and  one 
of  their  companions  received  a  wound  of  which  ho  died 
afterward.  I  had  put  four  balls  in  my  arquebus.  Ours,  in 
witnessing  a  shot  so  favorable  for  them,  set  up  such  tremen- 
dous shouts  that  thunder  could  not  liaAe  been  heard  ;  and 
yet  there  was  no  lack  of  arrows  on  one  side  and  the  other. 
The  Iroquois  were  greatly  astonished,  seeing  two  men 
killed  so  instantaneously,  notwithstanding  they  were  pro- 
vided with  arrow-proof  armor  woven  of  cotton  thread  and 
wood.  This  frightened  them  very  much.  Whilst  I  was 
reloading,  one  of  my  comj)anion8  in  the  bush  fired  a  shot 
which  so  astonished  them  anew,  seeing  their  chiefs  slain, 
that  they  lost  courage,  took  to  flight,  and  abandoned  the 
field  and  their  fort,  hiding  themselves  in  the  depths  of  the 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIN. 


15 


mo  that 
,  and  that 

OCOfrni  7-0(1 

han  those 
iihl  to  kill 
was  very 
IS  to  f?ivc 
lies,  as.  wo 
as  no  help 
m,  and  to 
3  engaged, 
about  two 
firm,  and 
it  into  tho 
ig  me  in  a 
two,  and 
y  paces  in 
emy. 

at  me  and 
ot  at  us,  I 
the  three 
)t,  and  one 
ho  died 
Ours,  in 
rh  tremen- 
card  ;  and 
the  other, 
two  men 
wore  pro- 
road  and 
1st  I  was 
ed  a  shot 
iofs  plain, 
douod  tho 
tlis  of  the 


11 


ri 

f 


■-■;,! 


forest,  whither  pursuing  them  I  killed  sumo  otliers.  Our 
Gavages  also  killed  several  of  them,  and  took  ton  or  twelve 
prisoners.  Tho  rest  carried  off  the  wounded.  Fifteen  or 
sixteen  of  ours  were  wounded  by  uni-ws ;  they  were 
promptly  cured. 

"  After  having  gained  the  victory,  they  amused  themselves 
plundering  Indian  corn  and  meal  from  the  enemy;  also 
their  arms  which  they  had  thrown  down  in  order  to  run  tho 
better.  And  having  feasted,  sung  and  danced,  we  returned, 
three  hours  after,  with  the  prisoners." 

In  1011  and  1G12  he  ascended  the  St.  Law- 
rence to  Lake  Erie,  Detroit,  and  Lake  Huron, 
and  for  a  number  of  years  prosecuted  the  fur 
trade  at  the  phice  where  Boston  now  stands. 

Following  these  were  the  Jesuit  missions,  who 
for  forty  years  l)uilt  and  resided  in  the  five 
Iroquois  cantons  until  they  were  "  burnt  out " 
by  tlie  machinations  of  the  English.  They 
extended  west  to  Niagara,  Detroit,  and  down 
the  Ohio  and  the  Illinois  to  St.  Louis. 

The  British  claim  of  dominion  upon  the 
Champlain  valley  extended  up  to  the  neighbor- 
hood of  the  river  St.  Lawrence. 

It  was  based, 

1.  On  the  title  of  the  Dutch,  "  from  the  St. 
Lawrence  to  the  Delaware  river." 

2.  On  the  assertion  of  that  right  in  the  grant 
of  King  Charles  to  the  Duke  of  York,  "  for  all 
of  the  lands  west  of  the  Connecticut  river." 


lii 


16 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


3.  The  treaty  of  the  Five  Nations  witli  the 
Governor  of  New  York,  by  M'hicli,  in  consider- 
ation of  Ills  protection,  they  submitted  to  the 
sovereignty  of  the  King  of  Great  Britain.  All 
tlie  country  to  the  south  of  the  St.  Lawrence 
was  described  by  Frencli  writers  as  belonging 
to  the  Five  Nations.  Lake  Chaniplain  is  named 
^^Mere  ties  Jroq^iois,^''  and  the  lands  on  the  east 
side  of   the   lake,  now  Vermont,  were   called 

4.  The  treaty  of  Utrecht,  by  which  the  French 
King  expressly  recognized  the  sovereignty  of 
Great  Britain  over  these  nations  and  the  lands 
held  by  them. 

5.  The  exercise  of  sovereignty  by  the  patent 
granted  to  Rev.  Godfrey  Dellins,*  under  the 
seal  of  New  York,  in  the  year  1696,  of  lands 
described  in  an  Indian  deed  to  him,  which  compre- 
hended a  tract  extending  from  Saraghtoga  along 
the  Hudson  river  to  '''•liegio  Iiock^''\  twenty 
miles  north  of  Crown  Point,  and  which  grant 
the  legislature  afterward  abroo;ated  on  account 
of  its  excessive  amount.:]: 

*  Dellins  was  the  first  Dutch  minister  settled  in  Albany. 

f  Split  rock.  This  grant,  it  is  claimed,  did  not  extend 
into  Vermont,  but  up  the  Hudson  River  to  a  point  opposite 
llegio  Rock.    {S(e  Historical  Magazine,  February,  1868.) 

:j:  In  April,  1750,  John  Henry  Lydius,  a  citizen  of  Albany, 
and  his  wife  Genevieve  Masse  (a  half-breed),  made  afBdavit 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAl^. 


17 


The  policy  of  l>otli  nations  appca"s  to  have 
been  to  cultivate  assiduously  the  friendship  of 
tlie  dusky  tribes.  In  this  the  French  were  the 
most  successful,  and  their  influence  extended  to 
the  end  of  Lake  Superior,  and  embraced  all  of 
the  country  between  the  Hudson's  Bay  and  the 
Onondaga  council  fire. 

But  while  Canada  was  settled,  and  its  gov- 
ernment was  carried  on,  as  a  strictly  military 
colony,  the  Dutch,  and  after  them,  the  English, 
were  essentially  a  trading  nation.  Albany  was 
the  great  center  of  Indian  trade  and  barter,  and 
its  commerce  extended  to  Montreal  and  the 
French  Indians,  to  the  great  grief  of  the  Mo- 
hawks, who  always  claimed  that  by  this  means 
their  implacable  enemies,  the  Aliron 
Adirondacks,  found  never 
powder  and  lead. 


»" 


iquins 


an( 


-failing  supplies   of 


"  that  he  had  froqiiontly  heard,  both  from  the  Mohawk  and 
Caknawaga  Indians,  during  the  previous  twenty-five  years, 
that  the  land  northward  of  Saraghtoga,  as  far  as  the  Kock 
Rogeo,  did  and  does  belong  to  the  Mohawks,  which  rock  is 
situated  ten  leagues  north  of  Crown  Point — '  Rogeo  *  being 
the  name  of  a  Mohawk  Indian  who  was  drowned  near  that 
rock  long  before  the  Christians  came  among  them,  from 
whence  the  Mohawks  called  the  rock  Rogeo."  It  was  a 
superstition  of  the  Indians  that  in  passing  the  rock  they 
should  cast  a  stone  or  other  article  toward  it  for  good  luck. 
On  Tryon's  map  it  is  called  "Point  Rerjiochue."  B. 
2* 


w 


tii 


18  '         LAKE   GEORGE   AND 

Tlie  follo^v^ng  was  the  scale  of  prices  in  the 

Indioa  trade  at  Montreal  and  Albany,  in  1G89: 

The  Indian  pays  for  At  Orange.        Montreal. 

8  pounds  of  powder, one  beaver.  four  beavers. 

A  gun, two    do  five    do 

40  pounds  of  lead, one     do  three  do 

Blanket  of  red  cloth, one     do  two    do 

Four  shirts one     do  two    do 

Six  pairs  of  stockings, one     do  two    do 

Six  quarts  of  rum, one     do  six     do 

For  the  generation  previous  to  the  advent  of 
the  European  race,  the  Iroquois  had  waged  a 
merciless  war  against  the  Algonquins  on  the 
St.  Lawrence.  The  arrival  of  Champlain  with 
the  hitherto  unknown  fire-arm  turned  the  for- 
tunes of  war  with  the  northern  tribes. 

The  Iroquois  transferred  their  jealousy  and 
their  enmity  against  the  French  allies,  with 
whom  they  would  never  make  a  permanent 
peace. 

Champlain  and  the  succeeding  Governors  of 
Canada  assisted  the  northern  nations  in  all  their 
wars,  or  retained  them  as  allies.  It  became  a 
great  object  of  the  French  to  get  possession  of 
the  port  of  New  York.  For  this  purpose  cabi- 
net councils  w^ere  held  and  numerous  plans  laid ; 
and  it  is  by  reason  of  the  efforts  made  by  the 
respective  nations  and  their  dusky  allies,  for  the 
purposes  of  conquest  or  defense,  that  the  entire 


•I 


LAKE   CII\M1'LAIN. 


m 


;s  in  the 
in  1089 : 

Jontroal. 
ur  beavers, 
vc  do 
lircc  do 
ivo  do 
tvo  do 
wo  do 
ix     do 

id  vent  of 
M'^af^cd  a 
s  on  the 
lain  with 
I  the  for- 

ousy  and 
ies. 


with 


ermanent 

ernors  of 
I  all  their 
jeeame  a 
ession  of 
lose  cabi- 
hans  laid ; 
le  by  the 
;s,  for  the 
he  entire 


region,  from  Forts  Oranjie  and  Schenectady  to 
Cumberland  Head,  l;as  become  the  classic 
pjround  of  America. 

On  the  9th  of  January,  IGGG,  an  expedition 
was  fitted  out  at  Quebec,  under  the  veteran  Do 
Courcelles,  with  five  liundred  men,  whose  object 
was  to  proceed  to  the  ^[ohawk  valley  and 
destroy  the  villages  there.  They  marched  on 
snow-shoes,  and  each  officer  and  man  carried 
from  twenty-five  to  thirty  pounds  of  biscuit, 
besides  his  clothing,  arms  and  ammunition. 
Sledges  drawn  by  dogs,  and  carrying  supplies, 
accompanied  them.  Tiiey  purposed  to  give 
the  Indians  such  a  punishment  as  should  induce 
them  to  put  a  stop  to  their  incursioi>s,  and  live 
at  peace  with  tlie  French  settlements.  A  more 
difiicult  or  longer  march  than  that  of  this  little 
army  is  scarcely  to  be  met  with  in  history. 

In  addition  to  the  awkwardness  of  the  snow- 
shoes,  it  was  necessary  to  make  a  journey  of 
over  four  hundred  miles,  to  cross  lakes  and 
rivers,  to  sleep  on  the  snow  in  the  midst  of  the 
forest,  and  to  endure  the  cold  of  a  rigorous 
winter. 

On  the  third  day  out,  many  had  their  noses, 
ears,  fingers  or  knees  frozen,  and  some,  wholly 
overcome  by  the  cold,  were  carried  to  the  place 
where  they  were  to  pass  the  night.     Still  they 


20 


LAKE  GEORGE   AND 


j)U8lie(l  on,  until,  on  the  9tli  of  February,  tliey 
arrived  within  two  miles  of  Schenectady. 

Here  a  party  of  sixty  fusileers  were  drawn 
into  an  ambuscade  of  two  hundred  Mohawks, 
who  at  one  volley  killed  a  lieutenant  and  eleven 
men,  and  wounded  seven  others. 

The  next  day  the  wounded  were  sent  down 
to  Schenectady,  where  they  were  hospitably 
entertained  and  cared  for  by  the  citizens, 
through  the  interposition  of  Corlear,  while 
wine,  peas  and  bread  were  obtained  for  the 
troops.  Grateful  for  such  unexpected,  if  not 
undeserved  hospitality.  Governor  Courcellcs 
invited  Coilear  to  visit  him  at  Montreal,  which 
invitation  was  accepted.  On  his  journey 
thither  he  was  accidentally  drowned  in  Lake 
Champlain.  lie  was  so  great  a  favorite  with 
the  Indians  that  they  were  accustomed  to  desig- 
nate the  Governor  of  New  York  by  the  title  of 
"  Corlear." 

On  the  twelfth  the  French  camp  suddenly 
broke  up,  and  they  fell  back  to  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  closely  pursued  by  the  Mohawks,  who 
however  only  took  three  prisoners. 
.  In  the  same  year,  on  the  14tli  of  Septqmber, 
an  expedition  of  six  hundred,  under  the  com- 
mand of  M.  De  Tracey,  embarked  in  three 
hundred  liirht  batteaux  and  bark  canoes,  witli 


LAKE   CIIAMPLALN. 


21 


two  small  pieces  of  artillery.  Notwithstanding 
the  care  taken  to  prevent  discovery,  they  found, 
on  their  arrival  at  the  Mohawk  castles,  the  vil- 
lages were  abandoned,  but  were  full  of  grain 
and  provisions.  At  the  last  was  a  triple  pali- 
sade twenty  feet  high,  and  flanked  by  four  bas- 
tions, witli  prodigious  quantities  of  i:)rovi8ion8 
and  an  abundant  supply  of  w^ter  to  extinguish 
Are  when  necessary.  A  few  old  persons  and 
tlic  remains  of  two  or  three  savages  of  another 
tribe  whom  they  had  half  roasted,  were  all  that 
were  found.  After  qelcbrating  mass,  singing 
the  Te  Deum  and  planting  the  cross,  they  fired 
the  palisades,  cabins  and  villages,  destroyed  the 
stores  of  corn,  beans  and  other  produce,  and 
returned  by  the  route  they  came. 

Through  the  influence  of  the  Colonial  Govern- 
ment, acting  under  advice  from  the  Duke  of 
York,  peace  was  made  between  the  French  and 
Indians,  which  continued  with  but  little  inter- 
ruption for  a  period  of  over  twenty  years.  This 
interval  was  employed  by  both  the  French  and 
English  in  consolidating  their  '  "'ttlements  and 
in  prosecuting  their  trade  with  the  Indians. 
It  was  at  this  time  that  La  Salle,  Marquette, 
Hennepin  and  other  Franciscans,  bearing  the 
calumet  and  cross,  discovered  the  prdries  of  the 
Illinois,  and  ascended  and  descended  the  Missis- 


ill! 


22 


LAKE   OEOROE   AND 


eippi.  In  1079,  La  Sullc  encamped  at  NIaijara, 
and,  amid  the  fire  of  artillery  and  the  chanting 
of  tlic  To  Deum,  first  hunuthed  a  hark  of  sixty 
tons  on  the  placid  wators  of  Lake  Erie.* 

In  1085,  with  a  colony  of  two  hundred  and 
ten  persons,  he  landed  on  the  lovely  13ay  of 
Matagordo,  and  in  the  name  of  Louis  XIV, 
took  possession  of  Texas,  carved  the  royal  arms 
of  France  upon  her  stately  trees,  and  by  no 
treaty  or  public  document  was  her  right  ever 
relinquished,  except  in  the  general  cession  of 
Louisiana  to  the  United  Sjtates  under  the  Jeft'er- 
son  treaty. 

In  March,  1084,  a  band  of  two  hundred 
Senccas  attacked  and  pillaged  a  party  of  four- 
teen French  traders  who,  in  seven  canoes,  were 
proceeding  down  the  Illinois  river  to  the  fort  at 
St.  Louis,  with  sixteen  thousand  pounds  of 
merchandise. 

In  consequence  ostensibly  of  this,  an  expedi- 
tion was  fitted  out  at  Montreal,  under  Gov. 
Denonville,  to  attack  and  conquer  the  Senecas 
in  Western  New  York.  But  the  real  purpose 
was  the  protection  of  the  trade  of  the  Western 
Indians  in  the  Ohio  and  Illinois  country,  and 
also  "  for  the  establishment  of  the  religion  which 


*  La  Salle's  first  vessel  was  named  "  La  Griffin." 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAiN. 


23 


will  never  spread  it.self  except  by  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  Iroquois ;  Jiiul  of  cominercc  and  the 
[French]  Kinj^'s  power  over  all  North  Amer- 
ica."* In  this  they  were  successful,  having 
•ncd  three  castles,  without  snfTering  much 
lo)  -,  and  established  the  fort  at  Niagara. 

In  1G87  an  irrui)tion  of  some  sixty  Iroquois 
was  made  down  J^ake  Cliamphiin  into  the 
French  settlement  of  Chamblay,  which  they 
destroyed,  killing  nisiny  of  the  inhabitants  and 
bringing  away  captives. 

In  1G80,  in  the  month  of  August,  a  force  of 
nine  hundred  Mohawks  landed  on  the  island  of 
Montreal,  and  nearly  destroyed  the  whole  set- 
tlement, carrying  off  one  hundred  and  twenty 
prisoners,  besides  killing  two  hundred,  some  of 
whom  were  bound,  roasted  alive  and  devoured. 
They  retained  possession  of  the  island  till  the 
middle  of  October. 

In  the  month  of  February,  1G90,  war  having 
been  declared  between  England  and  France,  a 
party  of  two  hundred  and  ten  men,  under  the 
command  of  Lieut.  Le  Moyne  de  St.  Ilelene, 
left  Montreal  and  passed  through  the  lake  to 
attack  Fort  Orapge.  The  Indians  were  led  by 
a  great  Mohawk  chief  by  the  name  of  Kryn, 


*  Colonial  History,  vol.  iii,  page  320. 


''m 


24 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


who  liad  removed  from  the  Mohawk  Yalley  to 
La  Prairie  in  Canada,  in  1674. 

Arriving  at  the  pLace  wliere  the  road  turned 
off  to  Schenectady,  they,  imder  advice  of  the 
Indian  scouts,  who  were  familiar  with  the  passes 
of  the  whole  country,  took  the  latter  road,  and 
arrived  at  the  settlement  at  eleven  o'clock  at 
night  of  the  9th  of  February.  The  town  was 
built  of  an  oblong  form,  witli  a  wall  around  it, 
and  two  gales  which  the  squaws  pointed  out, 
and  one  of  which  was  found  wide  open.  Into 
this  they  entered,  and,  after  surrounding  the 
town,  gave  the  war-whoop  and  rushed  on.  M. 
de  Mantet,  at  the  head  of  a  detachment,  reached 
a  small  fort,  which,  after  some  resistance,  was 
entered,  set  on  iire,  and  all  who  defended  it 
were  slain.  The  sack  of  the  town  immediately 
began,  which  lasted  for  tW'O  hours,  and  all  who 
resisted  were  massacred.  The  house  belonging 
to  the  He  v.  Peter  Tassemaker,  of  the  Dutch 
Reformed  Church,  was  ordered  to  be  saved,  but 
as  it  was  not  known,  it  was  burned,  and  he  w^as 
killed.  The  dwelling  of  Capt.  Joannes  San- 
ders Glen,  the  mayor  of  the  place,  was  also 
saved,  in  consequence  of  the  good  treatment 
the  French  had  formerly  received  at  his  hands ; 
also  that  of  a  widow  who  had  six  children,  to 
which  place  M.  de  Montigny  had  been  carried 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIX. 


25 


when  Avounded.  All  the  rest,  airiounting  to 
some  eiijrlitv  well-built  and  well-furnished  houses, 
wore  Inirned.  The  return  march  commenced 
with  thirty  prisoners  and  sixty  good  horses,  of 
which  hist  sixteen  reached  Montreal,  the  rest 
liaving  been  killed  for  food.  The  loss  of  the 
French  was  twenty-one,  of  whom  but  two  M'ere 
killed  at  the  sack  of  the  town.  Tlie  number 
of  the  inhabitants  destroyed  was  sixty  men, 
Avomen  and  chiklren. 

They  were  pursued  to  Lake  Champlain  by 
Major  Peter  Schuyler,  with  about  two  hundred 
whites  and  Indians,  who  took  fifteen  French 
prisoners  and  carried  them  oif  to  their  castles. 


ft! 


CHAPTER  II. 

WlNTIIROP'S  EXPEDITION,  1000  —  CAPTAIN  JOHN  SCnUYI.ER'S  ATTACK 
ON  CIIAMBLAY  — MAJOR  PETER  SCIIUYLER'S  EXPEDITION  —  THE  DE- 
SCENT OF  THE  FRENCH  INTO  THE  LOWER  MOHAWK  VALLEY  —  PURSUIT 
BY  SCHUYLER  — BATTLE  IN  WILTON,  SARATOGA  COUNTY. 

IRED  of  these  niidniglit  attacks  upon 
defenseless  and  outlying  settlements, 
with  the  attendant  barbarities  of  the 
niercUe;.-  savage,  the  colonists  bega 
to  see  the  necessity  of  union,  and  to  enact 
measures  of  common  defense.  On  the  first  day 
of  May,  1G90,  in  the  Fort  of  'Now  York,  the 
FIRST  American  congress  Avas  held. 

It  was  there  agreed,  that,  while  Massachusetts 
should  with  a  fleet  attack  Quebec,  an  army 
should  proceed  by  way  of  Lake  Champlain  to 
the  capture  of  Montreal,  and  thus  the  conquest 
of  Canada  should  be  completed- 

Hereafter  the  solitudes  of  the  forest  were  to 
be  broken  by  the  measured  tread  of  civilized 
armies,  not  to  cease  imtil  the  cross  of  St.  George 
or  the  banner  of  St.  Louis  should  wave  over  the 
entire  continent;  nor  even  then  until  far  down 
in  the  ages  the  bird  of  freedom,  from  its  lonely 
eyrie,  should  w*itness  the  birth  of  a  new  natioUj 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIN. 


27 


springing,  like  Pallas  from  the  head  of  Jove, 
armcil,  fill  grown,  and  founded  upon  the  prin- 
ciple of  UNIVERSAL  EQUALITY  FOK  THE  HUMAN 
liACE. 

The  command  of  the  expedition  was  given  to 
Fitz  John  Winthrop,  of  Connecticut,  a  member 
of  the  council  of  Governor  Andros,  and  who 
was  commissioned  to  he  a  major-general  for  this 
purpose. 

On  the  1-lth  of  July,  General  "Winthrop 
set  forward  from  Hartford  with  some  troops, 
and  in  seven  days,  through  the  almost  impass- 
able wilderness,  he  reached  Albany.  Two  com- 
panies, under  Captains  Johnson  and  Fitch,  liad 
preceded  him.  He  found  here,  he  says,  "  the 
design  against  Canada  poorly  contrived,  and 
little  prosecuted,  all  things  confused  and  in  no 
readiness  or  position  for  marching ;  yet  every- 
body full  of  idle  projects  about  it." 

The  command  was  composed  of  400  troops 
from  New  Yor^"  three  companies  of  135  men 
from  Connecticut,  thirty  River  Indians,  and  150 
IMohawks.  What  a  sorry  array  compared  to 
the  magnificently  appointed  thousands  -who, 
sixty-eight  years  after,  swept  through  Lake 
George,  under  Abercrombie  and  Lord  Howe, 
and  found  "glory  and  a  grave"  under  the  bat- 
tlements of  Ticonderoga ! 


!!! 


iu     i 


28 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


On  the  30t]i  tlie  New  England  troops  and 
the  Indians  moved  np  fonr  miles,  and  encamped 
npon  the  flats  (Watervliet). 

August  1,  quartered  at  Stillwater,  "so  named 
because  the  water  passes  so  slowly  as  not  to  be 
discovered ;  while  above  and  below,  it  is  dis- 
turbed and  rageth,  as  in  a  great  sea,  occasioned 
by  rocks  and  falls  therein." 

August  2d.  The  general  moved  forward  to 
Saraghtoga  (Schuylerville),  about  fifty  miles 
from  Albany,  where  was  a  block-house  and  some 
Dutch  soldiers.  At  this  place,  he  was  joined 
by  JVtr.  Wessels,  recorder  of  Albany,  and  a  com- 
pany of  the  principal  gentlemen,  volunteers 
from  that  city.  lie  here  got  letters  from  Major 
Peter  Schuyler,  the  mayor  of  Albany,  who  had 
preceded  him  with  the  Dutch  troops,  to  the 
effect  that  he  was  up  to  the  second  carrying 
place  (Ft.  Miller)  making  canoes  for  the  army. 
Thus  far  "the  way  had  been  very  good,  only 
four  great  M-ading  rivers,  one  of  them  (the 
Mohawk)  dangerous  for  both  horse  and  man." 

August  4:th.  Divided  the  provision,  thirty- 
five  cakes  of  bread  to  each  soldier,  besides  the 
pork,  and  moved  up  eight  miles  (to  Ft.  Miller) ; 
the  Dutch  soldiers  carrying  up  their  sujiplies  in 
their  birch  canoes,  and  the  Connecticut  trooj)S 
carrying  them   on   horses.     Here   "the  water 


; 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIX. 


29 


5> 


passetli  so  violently,  by  reason  of  the  great  falls 
and  rocks,  that  canoes  cannot  pass,  so  they  were 
forced  to  carry  their  provision  and  canoes  on 
tlieir  backs  a  pretty  ways  to  a  passable  part  of 
the  river." 

August  5th.  The  soldiers  marched,  with  their 
provisions  on  horses,  about  eight  miles,  to  tlie 
great  carrying  place  (Ft.  Edward),  the  Dutch 
having  gone  up  in  their  canoes. 

August  Gtli.  The  command  marched  over 
the  carrying  place  twelve  miles,  to  the  forks  on 
"Wood  creek  (Ft.  Ann).  The  way  was  up  a  con- 
tinual swamp  abounding  with  tall  white  pine. 
The  New  York  companies  excited  the  general's 
admiration  at  the  vigorous  manner  in  whichj 
and  without  any  repining,  they  carried  their 
canoes  and  provisions  across  upon  their  backs. 

August  7th.  Having  sent  thirty  horses  back 
to  Saratoga  for  more  provision,  under  command 
of  Ensign  Thomilson,  the  general  passed  down 
the  creek  with  two  files  of  musketeers,  in  bark 
canoes,"^'  flanked  by  the  Indians  marching  by 
the  river  side,  commanded  by  Capt.  Stanton,  to 
the  Ilautkill  (Whitehall),  where  ho  encamped 


1 


■•* 


*Tho  nations  of  tho  Algonquin  family  only  made  tlieir 
canoes  of  Lircli,  while  the  Iroquois   made  theirs  of  elm. 
They  bought  those  of  birch  from  other  tribes.     Lajlteau. 
3* 


':m 


30 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


li 


with  Major  Schuyler  and  the  Mohawk  captains, 
on  tlie  north  side  of  Wood  creek. 

On  the  9th  of  August,  information  came 
through  Capt.  Johnson,  who  had  been  sent  to 
Albany  some  days  since  to  procure  additional 
supplies  of  provisions,  that  the  Senecas  and 
other  Indians,  whom  he  expected  to  meet  at  the 
Isle  La  Motte,  near  the  north  end  of  Lake 
Champlain,  had  not  left  their  country  on  account 
of  the  small-pox  breaking  out  among  them. 
The  expression  they  used  was,  "  that  the  Great 
God  had  stopt  their  way."  The  small-pox  had 
also  broken  out  in  the  army,  and  seriously 
reduced  the  available  force.* 

In  the  meantime  Major  Schuyler  had  sent 
forward  Capt.  Sanders  Glen  with  a  scouting 
party  of  twenty-eight  ii.v.a  and  five  Indians  (the 
same  one  who  had  been  spared  at  the  Schenec- 
tady massacre),  who  had  proceeded  as  far  as 
"  Ticonderoga,"t  where  he  erected  some  stone 
breastworks,  and  had  been  since  the  fifth  of 
August  waiting  for  tlio  expedition  to  come  up. 


*  It  was  claimed  by  the  Frcncli  that,  of  this  expedition, 
400  Indians  and  200  English  died  from  the  small-pox, 

f  Tsinondrosa,  meaninj^  the  "  tail  of  the  lake,"  referring 
to  the  portion  of  Lake  Chami)lain  south  of  Ticonderoga ; 
also  called  by  the  early  Dutch  "  Ilautkill." 


^% 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIN. 


31 


iptains, 


I   came 

?,- 

sent  to 

litional 

• 

as   and 

t  at  the 

♦  , 

f  Lake 

acconnt 

tliem. 

■I 

e  Great 

-•'; 

lox  had 

sriously 

id  sent 

1 

couting; 

■^r 

ms  (the 

■.■A 

chenec- 

i 

far  as 

4 

B  stone 

il'th  of 

j, 

me  up. 

irdition, 


)X 


•0 


forring 
ideroga ; 


It  was  now  found  that  the  time  was  so  far 
spent,  the  hark  would  not  peel,  so  no  more 
cano(  -^  could  be  made. 

The  provisions  were  also  giving  out,  and 
it  vras  ascertained  from  the  commissaries  at 
Albany  that  no  further  considerable  supply 
could  1)0  forwarded.  It  was,  therefore,  on  the 
irth,  resolved  in  a  council  of  war  to  return 
with  the  army. 

Orders  were  given  to  Capt.  John  Sclniyler,* 
brother  of  the  mayor,  to  proceed  with  a  party 
of  forty  Christians  and  120  savages  down  the 
lake,  and  inflict  what  damage  he  could  on  the 
enemy  at  La  Prairie.  The  troops  then  moved 
back  to  the  head  of  Wood  creek,  where  Lieut. 
Ilubbell  died  of  the  small-pox,  and  was  buried 
with  much  ceremonv.  AH  the  forts  down  to 
Saratoga  were  burnt  with  the  boats  and  stores. 

On  the  20th,  the  army,  from  which  so  much 
was  expected,  reached  Greenbush,  within  sight 
of  the  city,  having  been  absent  just  three  wc  jks, 
and  shortly  after  broke  up  and  the  men  went 
home.  Gen.  Winthrop  was  put  under  arrest 
by  order  of  Gov.  Leisler  for  the  failure  of  the 
enterprise,  which,  however,  could  not  well  be 
otherwise,  considering  the  want  of  a  commis- 


*  Grandfather  of  Col.  Philip  Schuyler  of  the  Revolution. 


32 


LAKE   r.EOROE   AND 


Bariat,  the  brcalving  out  of  tlie  small-pox,  the 
inadequacy  of  the  transportation,  and  the 
"  failure  to  connect "  of  the  remaining  })arts  of 
the  expedition.* 

Capt.  Schuyler,  according  to  orders,  proceeded 
down  the  lake.  Near  the  swamps  he  met  Capt. 
Glen  on  his  return.  He  enlisted  thirteen  v,  lutes 
and  five  savages  from  this  connnand,  and  pro- 
ceeded down  to  Canaghsione,t  hilling  a  couple 
of  elk  on  their  way  for  food. 

On  the  15th  they  encamped  a  v.uIq  beyond 
Cruyn  Punt  (Crown  Point). 

ICth.  They  advanced  to  Kanoruoro  (the  Nar- 
rows), where  the  first  guard  was  put  on,  and 
Parent  AVemp  named  as  its  officer. 

17th.  Proceeded  to  Ogharonde  (Windmill 
Point),  where  the  plans  were  laid  for  the  attack, 
and  the  Indian  tribes  pledged  each  other  in 
strings  of  wampum  and  with  a  shake  of  the 
hand  to  stand  by  each  other  faithfully. 

23d.  They  reached  La  Prairie,  and  discovered 
the  inhabitants  in  the  fields  engaged  in  the  har- 
vest. The  savages,  with  a  war-cry,  fell  on  them 
and  killed  twelve  persons  and  took  fifteen  men 


*The  French  claimed  that  the  English  dare  not  trust 
themselves  in  the  elm  canoes  which  the  Indians  had  built. 

f  The  Two  Rocks,  ten  miles  below  Whitehall. 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIX, 


33 


and  four  women  prisonei*s.  Having  burned  six- 
teen liouses  and  destroyed  150  liead  of  cattle, 
they  sought  tlieir  boats  and  without  loss  returned 
to  Albany. 

On  the  20th  they  encamped  at  the  "little 
stone  fort,"  being  the  first  record  of  any  consider- 
able force  that  had  encamped  at  Ticonderoga. 

In  the  summer  of  1G91,  Major  Peter  Schuyler, 
at  the  head  of  a  party  of  2G0  Christians  and 
Indians,  following  in  the  track  of  his  brother 
above,  made  a  similar  descent  upon  the  doomed 
settlement  of  La  Prairie.  From  the  journal 
of  his  expedition,  we  learn  that  he  marched 
June  21st,  from  Albany,  twenty-four  miles,  to 
Stillwater.  On  the  21th  his  command  ])ro- 
ceeded  to  Saraghtoga,  sixteen  miles  ;  and  on  the 
2Gth,  to  the  first  (Fort  Miller)  and  second  car- 
rying places  (Fort  Edward).  On  the  28th  they 
marched  twelve  miles  to  the  last  carrying  place 
(Fort  Ann),  and  immediately  commenced  build- 


mg  canoes. 


On  the  1st  of  July  they  made  eight  canoes,  some 
capable  of  carrying  seven,  eight  and  twelve  men. 

July  9th  came  Gerrard  Luykosse  and  Herman 
Vcdder,  from  a  party  of  eighty  Mohawks,  at  a 
lake  right  over   Saraghtoga  (Saratoga  lake*), 


*  The  name  of  Saratoga  lake  waa  "Kayndcroga. 


^\ 


'  I 


i 


u 


LAKE  GEORGE  AND 


who  went  by  tlic  way  of  Lake  St.  Sacrament, 
and  promised  to  meet  ns  in  six  days  at  "  Cliin- 
androga"  (Ticonderoga). 

14tii.  We  removed  to  the  Falls  (Whitehall), 
distant  sixteen  miles,  and  then  encamped. 

10th.  Moved  from  the  Falls,  and  pitched  our 
tents  in  the  narrows  of  the  drowned  lands, 
twelve  miles  distant. 

17th.  Advanced  to  Chinanderoga,  and  two 
hours  after  met  the  Mohauques,  eighty  in  num- 
ber ;  after  which  we  fell  to  making  canoes,  the 
Christians  having  broken  two  of  theirs  coming 
over  the  falls.*  • 

19th.  Advanced  to  Crowne  Point,  twenty 
miles.  Here  the  Mohawks  presented  the  major 
with  a  bundle  of  ninety-two  sticks,  to  indicate 
their  number;  likewise  the  river  Indians 
(Schagticokes),  sixty-six  sticks. 

On  the  1st  of  August,  having  reached  the 
La  Prairie  at  the  break  of  day,  "  they  said  their 
prayers,"  and  marched  over  a  corn  field  and 
along  the  water  side  till  they  came  to  a  wind- 
mill, when,  as  they  approached,  the  miller  fired 
and  killed  an  Indian,  Avhen  one  of  the  whites 
fired  and  killed  the  miller  as  he  was  attempting 

*  This  is  the  first  record  we  hj'vo  of  a  war  party  going 
through  Lake  George. 


ft 


I 


LAKE    CIIAMPLAIN. 


35 


I 


M 
n 


a  second  shot,  so  that  his  body  hung  half  in  and 
halt"  out  of  the  window.  As  they  moved  toward 
the  fort,  they  were  met  by  a  party  of  militia, 
whom  they  x?asily  repulsed,  and  who  retreated 
into  tlie  fort  with  considerable  loss.  The  regu- 
lars, under  the  command  of  St.  Cirque,  a  veteran 
captain,  here  made  an  attack,  Imt  were  received 
with  a  sharp  lire,  which  resulted  in  the  loss  of 
the  connnandant  and  several  otlier  ofticers. 

Schuyler  then  fell  back  one  hundred  and  fifty 
yards,  into  a  ditch,  which  formed  a  sort  of 
ambuscade,  iaito  which  the  French  rushed,  but 
were  repulsed  with  considerable  loss.  Mean- 
while M.  Yalrenne,  with  a  detacliment  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  men,  had  interposed 
between  Schuyler  and  the  boats.  Two  large 
trees  which  had  fallen  down,  served  him  for  a 
breastwork.  But  Schuyler,  forming  his  men, 
told  them  that  there  was  no  choice  but  to  fisrht 
or  die,  and  rushed  on.  They  received  the  first 
volley,  which  killed  and  wounded  the  most  that 
were  lost  in  the  expedition.  In  a  short  time  the 
enemy  retreated,  and  they  reached  the  canoes 
and  embarked,  reaching  Albany  on  the  9th, 
with  a  loss  of  twenty-one  killed  and  twenty-five 
wounded. 

The  perpetual  alarms  which  the  inhabitants 
of  Lower   Canada    suffered    in    these   various 


86 


LAKE   OKOUOE   AND 


attsiclvH,  who,  l)t'in<;  tjikcn  alive,  were  tortured, 
roasted  and  eaten  l)y  the  barbarians,  or  liad 
tlieir  liouses,  cattle  and  crops  destroyed,  deter- 
mined Count  De  Frontenae,  now  Governor  of 
Canada,  to  strike  bucli  a  blow  upon  the  Mo- 
hawks  as  should  (!onipel  thein  to  sue  for  peace. 
Accordingly,  in  the  month  of  January,  109-^, 
ho  despatched  from  Montreal  a  force  of  six 
hundred  and  twenty-five  men,  including  two 
hundred  Indians,  under  the  command  of  Dc 
Manteth,  with  orders  to  proceed  and  destroy  the 
Mohawk  castles,  and  commit  as  great  ravages 
as  possible  around  Fort  Oranj^e— -Albany.  The 
party,  like  the  expedition  of  ]()oG,  were  i)ro- 
vided  with  trains,  provisions,  ammunition,  in 
short  every  thing  necessary  for  so  long  a  jour- 
ney on  snow-shoes,  through  woods  and  over  the 
frozen  lakes  and  rivers.  They  were  accompa- 
nied by  twenty-five  ofHcers,  some  of  whom, 
being  the  seniors  of  the  commandant,  accom- 
panied the  expedition  as  volunteers.  They 
crossed  over  the  carrying  place  at  Ticonderoga, 
and  glided  over  the  now  silent  and  ice-bound 
waters  of  Lake  St.  Sacrament  to  its  head. 
Then  passing  the  base  of  the  Luzerne  range, 
they  crossed  the  Hudson  river  near  the  Little 
Bay  above  Glen's  Falls,  and  thence  moved  in 
the  shadow  of  the  Palmerton   mountain,  and 


LAKE  CITAMPLAIN. 


37 


over  the  Greenfield  hills  and  the  Kayaderosseraa 
range,  till,  on  the  8th  of  February,  they  canio 
in  bight  of  the  first  of  the  Mohawk  castles, 
situatt  near  Tribes'  Hill.  The  first  of  them,  in 
xwhicli  were  but  five  men  and  several  women 
and  children,  was  easily  taken,  as  also  a  second 
one  near  by,  where  were  still  a  lesser  number. 
Marching  on,  they  arrived,  on  the  night  of  tho 
ISth,  at  Tionderosa  (Fort  Hunter),  where  tho 
third  castle  was,  and  within  which,  but  unsus- 
picious of  the  proximity  of  their  implacable 
foes,  was  a  party  of  forty  warriors,  who  were 
having  dances  and  singing  war  songs,  being 
about  to  join  a  party  organizing  at  Oneida. 
The  noise  having  ceased,  the  gates  of  the  fort 
were  easily  entered,  and  it  was  captured  with 
the  loss  of  but  one  Frenchman.  Some  twenty 
or  thirty  of  the  Mohawks,  besides  several  women, 
were  killed  in  the  first  assault  and  subsequent 
intoxication  of  the  French  Indians.  Finally, 
the  fort,  carbines,  provisions  and  what  could 
not  be  removed,  were  destroyed,  and  the  party 
returned  to  the  first  castle.  The  number  of 
prisoners  amounted  to  three  hundred,  including 
over  one  hundred  who  were  able  to  bear  arms. 
On  the  22d,  the  last  of  the  castles  having  been 
destroyed,  including  the  provisions  and  clothing 
stored  therein,  the  expedition   retraced    their 


38 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


steps.  It  was  the  intention  of  the  French  com- 
mander to  push  on  to  Schenectady  and  Albany, 
but  they  were  overruled  by  the  Indian  chiefs, 
who  represented  that  the  number  of  prisoners 
they  had,  would  prevent  them  from  making  any 
further  advances.  Meanwhile,  by  the  escape 
of  a  yc''n<^  Dutchman  named  Van  Epps,  who 
three  years  before  had  been  taken  a  prisoner  at 
the  Schenectady  massacre,  on  the  first  evening 
of  the  arrival  of  the  French  at  the  Mohawk 
fort  information  came  to  the  English  of  the 
movements  of  the  enemy.  The  whole  country 
was  alarmed.  The  same  night,  Lieut.  John 
Schuyler  and  fifty-five  horse  marched  from 
Albany  to  Schenectady.  These  were  quickly 
followed  by  Major  Peter  Schuyler,  who  sent  out 
Bcouts  to  watch  the  enemy's  movements.  On 
Saturday  information  was  brought  that  the 
Mohawk  castle  at  Tionderosa  had  been  fired, 
which  news  being  brought  forward  to  Albany, 
Major  Ingoldsbey  sent  forward  a  detachment 
of  two  hundred  men  under  Captains  Matthews, 
Killian  Yan  Rensselaer  and  others,  who  reported 
to  Major  Schuyler  about  two  o'clock  p.  m.  The 
next  day,  Monday,  he  crossed  the  river  and 
started  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy  with  two  hun- 
dred and  seventy-three  men,  and  inarched 
twelve  miles  and  encamped.     At  one  o'clock 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIN. 


39 


the  next  morning  lie  broke  camp  and  marched 
till  Bix  A.  M.,  M'hen  he  had  advice  that  the  Cana- 
dians were  eijj-ht  miles  distant.  Lieut.  Van 
Slvck  and  two  Indians  were  sent  out  to  recon- 
noitrc,  who,  on  their  return,  reported  that  the 
enemy  had  l)roken  up  their  camp  and  were  on 
their  return  homeward.  At  four  o'clock  p.  m. 
the  command  marched  to  the  place  where  the 
invaders  had  lain  the  night  before,  near  Tribes' 
Hill. 

On  Tuesday,  the  loth,  they  received  a  re-en- 
forcement of  270  Mohawks,  who  had  come  down 
from  the  upper  country,  and  the  united  com- 
mand marched  about  ten  miles  (to  near  Galway) 
and  sent  spies  to  discov  er  the  enemy.  Thursday, 
the  ITtli,  marched  in  the  morning  to  the  place 
where  the  enemy  had  previously  encamped  (near 
Greeniield  Centre).  Two  miles  further  on,  they 
learned  through  a  christian  boy,  a  son  of  Arn- 
out,  the  interpreter,  that  the  French  were  within 
three  miles.  They  marched  forward  and  en- 
camped within  a  mile  of  the  enemy,  and  where 
the  French  had  built  a  fort,  Indian  fashion  (near 
Stiles  in  Wilton),  and  preparations  had  evidently 
been  made  to  give  them  a  warm  reception.  The 
ofiicers  were  all  ordered  to  their  posts,  and  the 
troojis  immediately  proceeded  to  fortify ;  which 
the  French  perceiving,  with  loud  huzzas,  imme- 


I 


40 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


diately  sallied  out  of  their  entrenchments,  ana 
attacked  them.     They  were  beaten  back  into 
their  fort,  with  a  loss  of  eight  men,  when  the 
English  troops  proceeded  to  continne  their  work 
at  their  abattis.     At  this  the  French  sallied  ont 
again,  but  y^jyg  once  more  forced  back,  with 
some  loss.      A  third   time   they  attacked   the 
works,  but  again  without  success,  and  with  a 
loss  in  all  of  thirty-three  killed,  and  twenty-six 
wounded,  among  the  former  of  whom  was  the 
commandant  and  four  other  officers.     As  soon 
as  the  engagement  was  over,  Major  Schuyler 
sent  back  for  provisions,  the  men  having  had 
nothing   to  eat  for   two  days.     The  next  day, 
Saturday,  there  was  a  storm  of  snow  and  wind, 
which  covered  up  their  tracks,  and  prevented 
any  movement ;  but,  at  ten  o'clock  a.  m.,  the 
enemy  broke  up  their  camp  and  marched  till 
evening.     Major  Schuyler  detached  sixty  men 
and  some  Indians  to  follow  them,  which  he  was 
unable  to  do  with  the  main  body,  by  reason  of  the 
lack  of  supplies.     The  next  day,  Sunday,  Capt. 
Simms  arrived  with  a  re-enforcement  of  eighty 
men  and  provisions,  which  were  immediately 
distributed ;  those  first  served  being  ordered  to 
the  pursuit,  with  five  biscuits  per  man.     About 
four  o'clock  the  men  under  command  of  Capt. 
Peter  Mathews  and  Lieut.  Schuyler  came  up 


LAKE    CIIAMrLAlN. 


41 


ents,  ana 
ack  into 
vlien  the 
leir  work 
illied  out 
ack,  with 
eked  the 
d  witli  a 
wenty-six 
1  was  the 

As  soon 

Schuyler 
iving  had 
next  day, 
and  wind, 
prevented 
A.  M.,  the 
rched  till 
Ixty  men 
cli  he  was 
Lson  of  the 

ay,  Capt. 

of  eighty 

mediately 
ordered  to 

.     Ahout 
of  Capt. 

came  up 


'$: 


within  a  mile  of  the  enemy,  when  the  orders 
were  given  to  fall  upon  their  rear,  hut  the  Indi- 
ana halted  and  refused  to  go  forward,  hccause 
they  had  information  that,  if  they  made  the  at- 
tack, the  French  would  kill  all  their  women  and 
cliihlrcn,  whom  they  had  prisoners.  After  an 
liour  had  heen  thus  wasted,  the  rest  of  the  men 
got  up,  and  tb  .  march  was  resumed,  with  the 
expectation  of  overtaking  the  enemy  at  the  river 
side  ;  hut  a  flake  of  ice,  having  lodged  in  the 
river,  formed  a  hridge,  while  all  was  open  ahove 
and  below,  across  which  the  invaders  passed  in 
safety.  The  French  marched  in  good  order,  the 
•wounded  aiid  prisoners  being  in  tlie  center,  and 
the  picked  troops  in  the  rear.  They  arrived  at 
Lake  St.  Sacrament  on  tlie  22d.  The  ice  here 
was  found  to  be  all  rotten,  and  the  men  in  some 
places  sank  up  to  the  waist.  The  Indians  sepa- 
rated from  the  French  to  strike  across  to  Lake 
Champlain.  The  prisoners,  except  about  iifty, 
escaped.  Two  days  after,  having  reached  their 
depot  of  provisions,  they  found  them  entirely 
spoiled  by  the  rain.  Famine  stared  them  in  the 
face,  and  they  even  boiled  the  extra  moccasins 
for  food.  They  were  four  or  five  days  without 
supplies,  and  two  or  three  died.  Messengers 
were  sent  to  Montreal  for  assistance,  and  150 

men,  with  provisions  on  their  backs,  went  to 
4* 


42 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


their  assistance.  Finally,  on  tlie  9tli  of  March, 
they  reached  Montreal,  having  thrown  away 
arms  and  blankets,  and  so  wasted  by  fatigue 
and  exposure  as  to  be  scarcely  recognized.  The 
pursuit  by  Major  Schuyler  was  only  carried  to 
the  river ;  the  aversion  of  the  Indians  to  fall 
upon  the  enemy,  as  above  stated,  the  want  of  pro- 
visions, and  their  shoes  quite  worn  out,  were  the 
reasons  given  for  their  turning  back,  which 
they  did  the  next  day,  arriving  in  Schenectady 
the  day  after. 

While  these  movements  were  in  progress  on 
the  frontier,  an  express  from  Col.  Beekman, 
of  Ulster  county,  had  communicated  to  Gov. 
Fletcher,  at  xicw  York,  the  news  of  the  attack 
on  the  Mohawk  castles,  which  reached  him 
about  eleven  o'clock  on  the  night  of  the  12th 
inst.  Fletcher  was  a  soldier  by  profession,  and, 
without  delay,  sent  orders  to  Col.  Courtland,  of 
Kings,  and  Col.  "Wilton,  of  Queens  counties,  to 
be  forthwith  ready  with  their  regiments  to  em- 
bark at  the  ferry.  At  eight  o'clock  the  next 
morning,  the  city  regiment  being  under  arms.  His 
Excellency,  on  horseback,  demanded  who  were 
willing  to  follow  him  to  the  frontier  against  the 
enemy.  They  unanimously  threw  up  their  bats, 
upon  which  150  picked  men  were  detached 
under  the  command   of  three   captains.     The 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIN. 


43 


next  day,  Tuesday,  eight  sloops  with  provisions 
and  ammunition  were  made  ready,  and  at  four 
o'clock  the  troops  embarked  witli  the  Governor 
and  staff.  Tlic  wind  being  favorable,  they 
reached  Albany  at  nine  o'clock  on  Friday,  when 
they  immediately  pressed  forward  to  .^  jhenec- 
tady.  The  storm  of  Saturday,  which  prevented 
Major  Schuyler  from  moving  out  of  his  camp, 
as  above  stated,  also  prevented  the  party  from 
crossing  the  Mohawk  river.  On  Sundav,  the 
ice  resettling,  enabled  them  to  cross  over  on 
foot,  when  two  hours  after  the  river  was  open 


again. 


On  Monday  a  further  detachment  marched 
over  with  thirteen  horses  loaded  witi;  supplies, 
and  at  two  o'clock  r.  m.  Capt.  Stillwell  arrived 
with  fifty  men  from  Kings  county,  making  in 
all  208  men,  besides  the  guides.  Tuesday  an 
express  from  Major  Schuyler  announced  his  ap- 
proach ;  whereupon  the  troops  were  recalled, 
and  the  Governor  the  next  day  returned  to  Al- 
bany. In  consideration  of  this  rai)id  movement 
of  Gov.  Fletcher  for  their  relief,  on  the  25th  of 
February  a  great  council  of  the  five  nations  was 
held  at  Albany,  at  which  the  hearth-fire  was 
uncovered,  Sadekanaktie,  Sachem  of  the  Onon- 
dagas  being  the  speaker.  Gov.  Fletcher  was 
christened    "Brother    Cajenguirjige,"    a   word 


I 


44 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


Bignifying  ''  Lord  of  the  Great  Swift  Arrow," 
because  of  his  speedy  arrival  with  so  many  men 
to  the  relief  of  their  VVagnas'  castles ;  which 
name  he  bore  with  them  forever  after.* 


*Doc.  iv,  16;  ix,  549.  This  account  seems  to  Lave  been 
almost  entirely  overlooked.  The  difference  of  time  in  the 
French  and  English  accounts  is  accounted  for  by  the  one 
using  old  style  and  tho  other  new  style.  Reconciling  them, 
and  taking  Burr's  atlas  and  a  pair  of  dividers,  the  distances 
are  easily  ascertained.    B. 


CHAPTER  IIL 


m^*A- 


Queen  anne's  war  — Nicholson's  ExrEmrioNs  — foht  inooldsbt, 

FORT  NICHOLSON  — IIENDIIICK  —  FOIIT  ST.  FKEDERICK  BUILT  —  CAF- 
TURE  OP  8ARAOHTOOA  —  FORT  CLINTON,  LA  CORNE'S  EXPEDITION 
AND  BATTLE  AT  FORT  CLINTON  —  TWENTY-SEVEN  PETTY  PARTIES  — 
WILLIAM  JOHNSON'S  EXPEDITION  TO  LAKE  ST.  SACRAMENT  —  FORT 
CLINTON  BURNED  — PEACE  OF  AIX-LA-CUAPELLE. 

1709. 

^-^^^^IIE  peace  of  Ryswick  had  been  de- 
■w^\\||!IB^  clared  in  1695.  After  a  lapse  of 
fourteen  years,  tlie  war  between  Eng- 
■$'  land  and  France,  known  as  Queen 
Anne's  war,  broke  out,  which  speedily  extended 
to  the  colonies,  each  bent  on  the  extermination 
of  the  other.  Ingoldsby,  who,  with  the  rank  of 
major,  had  come  to  this  country  as  commandant 
of  Iler  Majesty's  four  companies  of  regulars,  was 
now  lieutenant-governor.  Peter  (now  Col.) 
Schuyler,  was  of  the  executive  council,  and 
also  one  of  the  commissioners  of  Indian  affairs. 
He  was  called  by  the  Indians  Quida)\  because 
they  could  not  pronounce  his  given  name.  His 
brother  John,  who  had  led  the  incursion  against 
Chamblay,  had  been  advanced  to  the  grade  of 
lieutenant-colonel. 


46 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


Agcain,  a  joint  cxpcilition  m\i9  proposed  for 
the  conquest  of  Canada.  Five  regiments  of 
regulars,  with  proper  supplies,  were  to  come  to 
Boston,  there  to  he  joined  with  1,200  provin- 
cials, who  were  to  proceed  by  sea  to  Quebec, 
while  the  troops  were  to  rendezvous  at  Albany 
for  the  attack  on  Montreal.  The  forces  for  this 
latter  route  were  placed  under  the  comirtaTid  of 
Col.  Vetch,  a  nej)hew  of  Peter  Schuyler  and 
Gen.  Nicholson.  The  last  was  tendered  the 
command  by  Gov.  Ingoldsby,  May  21,  1709. 

On  the  19th,  the  council  gave  orders  that 
"  there  be  sent  up  forthwith  to  Albany,  a  suffi- 
cient quantity  of  stores,  provisions  and  all  other 
things  necessary  for  six  hundred  men,  together 
with  carpenters  and  materials  necessary  for 
building   store-houses   and  boats,  and   making 


canoes 


"-X- 


etc. 


The  first  portion  of  the  expedition,  compris- 
ing 300  men,  with  the  pioneers  and  artificers, 
moved  out  from  Albany  about  the  first  of  June, 
under  the  command  of  Col.  Schuyler,  and  pro- 
ceeded up  the  river  to  Stillwater,  where  they 
built  a  stockade  for  provisions,  which  they 
named  Fort  Ingoldsby.  They  also  established 
stockade  forts  at  Saraghtoga,  below  the  Batten- 

*■  Journal  of  the  Legislative  Council  of  New  York. 


i*^ 


•'Kit,. 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAm. 


47 


kill,  and  at  the  pccoiuI  carrying  place  *  and 
built  a  road  up  tlio  cast  side  of  the  river  to  tho 
great  carrying  i)lacc.  Here  they  established  a 
post  which  was  called  Fort  Nicholson,  and  then 
proceeded  up  to  the  fork  of  the  AVood  creek 
(Fort  Ann),  where  they  constructed  a  hundred 
bark  canoes,  and  a  hundred  and  ten  bateaux, 
which  would  hold  from  six  to  ten  men  each. 
They  also  built  a  redoubt  and  afterward  a 
stockaded  fort,  which  was  named  FortSchuyler.f 
Lieutenant-Colonel  John  Schuyler  was  in  com- 
mand of  the  place. 

The  number  of  men  was  finally  increased  to 
eleven  hundred  and  fiftv.  Fort  Nicholson  was 
garrisoned  by  four  hundred  and  fifty  men,  in- 
cluding seven  companies  of  "regulars  in  scarlet 
uniform  from  old  England."  At  the  fortified 
house  at  the  next  falls  below  (Fort  Miller),  were 
forty  men  ;  and  at  Stillwater,  where  La  Fleuer 
lived,  were  seventy  men. 

Meanwhile,  De  Yaudreuil  had  moved  up 
from  Montreal  to  Chamblay  with  1,G00  troops, 
to  watch  the  motions  of  the  invaders.  Tho 
expedition,  however,  was   simply  auxiliary  to 


*Fort  Miller  Falls. 

f  Doc.  ix,  837,  839.    When  it  received  the  name  of  "  FORT 
ANig "  docs  not  appear.    B. 


48 


LAKE   OEOROE   AND 


tlio  fleet.  As  the  latter  failed,  notliing  further 
came  of  the  invasion,  and  the  summer  passed 
away  in  idleness. 

About  the  first  of  Oetoher,  Lt.  Barent  Staats, 
a  nephew  of  Col.  Schuyler,  was  captured  near 
Fort  Nicholson,  and  was  detained  by  the  enemy 
till  the  winter,  when  he  was  exchanged. 

In  November  the  army  retired,  having  first 
burned  the  fort,  canoes  and  bateaux,  and  also 
all  the  forts  above  Haraghtoga. 

In  the  winter  season,  Col.  Schuyler,  with  five 
Sachems,  including  King  Ilendrick  and  Gen. 
Nicholson,  went  to  England  to  devise  a  plan 
for  another  expedition  for  the  conquest  of  the 
French  colonies.  In  London  the  Indians  were 
clothed  in  a  gay  and  showy  dress,  designed  by 
the  costumers  of  Her  Majesty's  theatre,  being  a 
suit  of  English  small  clothes  of  black,  with 
scarlet  ingrain  mantles  of  cloth,  edged  witli 
gold  for  their  blankets.  In  this  they  were  con- 
ducted in  state,  in  coaches,  to  an  audience  with 
Queen  Anne ;  and,  giving  her  belts  of  wampum, 
avowed  their  readiness  to  take  up  the  hatchet 
and  aid  in  the  reduction  of  Canada. 

In  1711  a  second  army  was  fitted  out  in  a 
similar  manner  to  the  last,  and  with  the  same 
purpose.  Those  for  the  Albany  expedition  were 
orffanized    into    three   regiments,   as    follows: 


LAKK   CHAMPLAIN. 


49 


further 
passed 

Staats, 
ed  near 
;  enemy 


ing  first 
iiid  also 


v'itli  five 
id  Gen. 
I  a  plan 
,t  of  the 
ins  •were 
o-ned  by 

being  a 
k,  with 
ed  with 
ere  eon- 
ice  with 
anipum, 

hatchet 

)ut  in  a 
le  same 
on  were 
follows : 


Col.  Ingoldsby,  regulars;  Col.  Schuyler,  New 
York  troops  ;  Col.  AVhiting,  Connecticut  troops ; 
the  whole  consisting  of  fifteen  hundred  men, 
nnder  connnand  of  Lieut.-Gen.  Nicholson. 
They  left  Albany  on  the  24th  of  August,  on 
which  day  also  the  Five  Nations,  to  the  number 
of  six  hundred  and  sixty  had  an  interview  with 
the  Governor.  Gen.  Nicholson  here  presented 
them  with  a  picture  of  King  Ilendrick  and 
the  other  sachems  who  had  now  returned  from 
England.  Tlie  Governor  desired  that  they 
sliould  hang  on  the  kettle  of  war,  and  presented 
them  with  five  oxen  and  a  barrel  of  beer  for 
each  of  the  nations.  The  Indians  replied, 
desiring  that  the  kettle  might  not  be  overset 
nor  turned  upside  down,  but  remain  boiling 
(meaning  that  the  war  may  continue),  "  until,  if 
God  please  to  bless,  we  wholly  reduce  and  sub- 
due Canada,  when  we  will  overset  and  turn  the 
kettle  upside  down,  and  wliat  is  boiled  in  it 
(meaning  the  prisoners)  will  be  at  the  disposal 
of  Annadagarrlax  "  (Gen  Nicholson), 

On  the  28tli  of  August  the  troops  were  all  on 
tlieir  march  beyond  Albany.  They  proceeded 
as  far  as  AVood  creek,  to  the  spot  where  the  fort 
was  which  was  destroyed  the  year  before,  and 
was  called  Fort  Ann.  The  batteaux  were 
mainly  prepared   in   Albany   and   below,   and 


i\ 


} 


60 


LAKE  GEORGE   AND 


wore  transported  across  the  carrying  place. 
Tlic  way  was  three  feet  four  inches  wide,  French 
measure.* 

Shortly  after,  intelligence  was  received  that 
Her  Majesty  V  Heet  had  been  shattered  by  storms 
in  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  with  a  loss  of  over 
a  thousand  troops,  and,  owing  to  the  ignorance 
of  the  pilots,  it  was  deemed  advisal)le  to  aban- 
don the  expedition,  whereupon  the  troops  were 
ordered  back  and  were  disbanded.  Thus  the 
third  attempt  at  the  conquest  of  Canada  i)roved 
abortive,  and  shortly  after,  in  1713,  the  declar- 
ation of  peace,  known  as  the  peace  of  Utrecht, 
between  England  and  France,  put  a  stop  to 
further  incursions,  and  closed  the  scries  of  uni- 
versal wars  for  the  balance  of  power. 

In  1731,  in  the  midst  of  profound  peace,  M. 
do  Beauharnois  conceived  the  plan  of  fortifying 
a  point  on  Lake  Champlain  known  as  ''''Point 
ait  Chevehwe '''' \  or  Crown  Point.  It  was 
descrii)ed  as  at  the  head  of  Lake  Champlain, 
about   half   way    from    Chamblay   to    Orange 


*  Holmes'  American  Annals,  and  the  authorities  there 
cited,  state  that  Nicholson  went  to  Lake  St.  Sacrament,  but 
there  does  not  appear  to  be  any  foundation  for  the  assertion. 


B. 


f  So  named  in  1689.    B. 


-•'V 


LAKK   ClIAMrLAIN. 


51 


'    place. 
,  Froiicii 

'C(l  that 
y  storms 
>  of  over 
;noraiice 
to  nban- 
)ps  were 
'Inis  the 
I  i)rovccl 
I  dec'hxr- 
[Jtrcclit, 
stop  to 
of  11  n  i- 

ace,  M. 
)rtifying 
''Point 
It  ^^■as 
niplain, 
Oi"ano;e 


:it^s  tliorc 
lucnt,  but 
iissortion. 
B. 


(Albany).  "It  is  a  small  strait,  separating  the 
lake  from  the  'Grand  Marais^''  at  the  head  of 
which  is  a  place  called  the  Little  Fall  of  the 
li'iver  da  Chicot  (Whitehall).  When  in  pos- 
session of  Point  de  la  Couronnr,  the  road  will 
he  blocked  on  the  English,  shoukl  the}'  wish  to 
pass  over  our  territory,  and  we  will  be  in  a 
position  to  fall  upon  them  when  they  least 
expect  it.  Beyond  a  doubt  the  King  of  Kng- 
land  has  granted  Lake  Champhiin  to  the  chil- 
dren of  Lieut.  Peter  Schuvler,  a  well  known 
citizen  of  Orange.  Therefore  we  must  antici- 
pate  the  establishment  they  may  found  at  Crown 
Point." 

Their  fears  in  the  latter  case  were  a  mere 
pretense,  as  the  patent  granted  to  the  children 
of  Schuyler  only  extended  from  Saraghtoga 
j)atent  up  to  Wood  creek. '-^ 

On  the  above  representations,  however,  Ilis 
Majesty,  Louis  XV,  directed  the  fort  to  be 
built,  which  was  accordingly  done,  and  a  gar- 
rison of  twenty  men  was  placed  within  it  for 
its  protection.  It  was  first  a  small  wooden  fort, 
which  in  successive  years  was  enlarged  and 
strengthened,  until,  in  1755,  it  was  cai)able  of 

*  Fort  Edward. 


-'  V. 


^m 


B$ 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


holding:  five  hundred  or  six  liiindred  men.  It 
was  known  as  Fort  St.  Frederick.* 

The  following  appears  to  have  been  its  early 
armament :  Two  iron  cannon,  six-ponnders ; 
seventeen  iron  canncn,  fonr-ponnders ;  twenty- 
three  brass  cannon,  two-poiinders ;  one  iron  can- 
non, two-poimder;  one  mortar;  eighteen  iron 
swivels;  twenty-iivG  iron  shells. 

The  provincials  looked  with  alarm  at  this 
menacing  demonstration  sixty  miles  within  their 


*  Tho  French  name  of  Crown  Point,  Foi"t  St.  Frederick, 
18  derived  from  the  French  Secretary  of  State,  Frederick 
Maurepas,  in  whose  liands  tho  direction  and  management 
of  the  Court  of  Admiralty  v»ch  at  the  time  of  its  erection. 
It  is  to  be  observed  that  the  jjfovernment  of  Canada  is  sub- 
ject to  tho  Court  of  Admiralty,  and  the  Governor-General 
is  always  chosen  by  this  court.  As  most  of  the  places  in 
Canada  bear  the  name  of  saints,  custom  has  made  it  neces- 
sary to  prefix  tho  word  to  the  name  of  this  fortress.  It  is 
built  on  a  rock  consisting  of  black  lime  slates  as  aforesaid. 
It  is  nearly  quadrangular,  has  high,  thick  walls  made  of 
the  same  limestone,  of  which  there  is  a  quarry  about  half  a 
mile  distant.  On  the  eastern  part  of  the  fort  is  a  high 
tower,  which  is  proof  against  bombshells,  and  is  well  served 
with  cannon  from  tho  bottom  almost  to  the  very  top,  and 
the  Governor,  Mr.  Lusignan,  lives  in  the  tower.  In  the 
terreplein  is  a  well-built  little  church,  and  houses  of  stone, 
for  the  officers  and  soldiers.  There  are  sharp  rocks  on  all 
Bides  toward  tJio  land,  beyond  a  cannon-shot  from  the  fort, 
but  among  them  are  some  which  are  as  high  as  the  walls 
of  the  fort,  and  very  near  them.    Kalm's  Dxivels,  1748. 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIN. 


53 


border,  and  made  the  most  energetic  protests, 
both  at  liome  and  to  the  Lords  of  Trade,  against 
its  continuance.  The  Earl  of  Waldegrave,  the 
British  Ambassador,  made  his  objection  against 
a  continuance  of  the  fort,  as  in  absolute  oppo- 
sition to  article  XY  of  the  treaty  of  Utrecht, 
but  no  further  effort  was  made  for  its  removal 
or  reduction. 

In  1744  war  was  again  declared  between  the 
Enij-lish  and  Frencli. 

In  the  month  of  ISTovembor,  1745,  an  expedi- 
tion was  fitted  out  at  Montreal,  under  the  com- 
mand of  M.  Marin,  comprising  three  hundred 
frenchman  and  as  many  Indians.  Their  object 
was  to  attack  and  capture  the  settlements  on 
the  Connecticut,  but  on  their  arrival  at  Fort  St. 
Frederick  tliis  purpose  was  changed,  and  they 
went  down  to  Saraghtoga,*  which  settlement 
they  attacked  on  the  night  of  the  10th  and  17th, 
plundered  and  burned  about  twenty  houses, 
together  with  the  fort.  In  this  affair  some 
thirty  persons  were  killed  and  scalped,  and 
about  sixty  were  taken  prisoners.  Only  one 
family  escaped  destruction,  by  flight,  who,  as 
they  looked  back,  saw  the  fort  in  flames. 


^: 


!1 

i  ■ 

s  ■ 


i 


*  Doc.  X,  pp.  38  and  39. 
6* 


64 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


In  the  spring  of  174.6  the  English  proceeded 
to  rebuild  the  fort,  for  the  construction  of  which 
the  Assembly  had  voted  one  hundred  and  fifty 
pounds.  The  location  was,  however,  changed 
to  accommodate  some  wheat  fields  which  were 
then  growing,  and  to  preserve  which  was  the 
object  of  its  construction.*  The  name  given  to 
the  new  work  was  Fort  Clinton. 

1746,  Aug.  29.  M.  de  Eepentigny,  who,  with 
a  party  of  twenty-six  Abnekas,  was  scouting 
near  by,  made  an  attack  upon  a  party  of  twenty 
soldiers  who  were  escorting  a  cart  loaded  with 
clay  to  build  a  chinmey,  and  killed  four  men  at 
the  gate  of  the  fort  (who  were  scalped  by  the 
Indians),  and  took  four  prisoners.f 

October  2-1.  The  same  officer,  being  on  the 
road  between  Albany  and  Saraghtoga,  attacked 
the  ordnance  and  j)rovision  train  which  was 
then  moving  up  to  the  latter  place,  and  killed 
two  men  and  upset  the  wagon.:}: 

July  16.  De  Mery,  and  a  dctaclnnent  of 
four  hundred  and  fifty  Canadians  and  savages, 
came  to  South  Bay,  and  were  employed  scouting 
and  working  on  the  river  aic    Chicot  (VV^ood 


*  Doc.  vi,  630.    Called  by  the  Frencli  Sarastean. 
f  Doc.  X,  35. 
X  Doc.  X,  75. 


LAKE   CHAMPLAIN. 


55 


Creek),  where  tliey  felled  tlie  trees  on  both  sides 
to  render  its  navigation  impracticable. 

The  commandant  at  Fort  St.  Frederick  was 
M.  de  Celeron. 

174:7,  June  11.  An  expedition  started  from 
Fort  St.  Frederick,  at  midnight,  for  Saraghtoga, 
to  destroy  Fort  Clinton.*  It  was  nnder  the 
command  of  La  Corne  St.  Luc,  and  comprised 
twenty  Frenchmen  and  two  hundred  Indians. 

June  1-1.  Arrived  at  the  Orange  (Hudson) 
river,  which  they  crossed  and  came  down  the 
west  side. 

June  16.  The  Indians  proposed  to  form  an 
ambuscade  on  a  little  island  in  front  of  the  fort, 
in  order  to  try  and  "  break  somebody's  head," 
])ut  La  Corne  told  them  they  must  go  to  the 
fort.  The  same  day,  De  Carqnivillc  reported 
that  some  forty  or  fifty  Englishmen  were  fishing 

*  Fort  Clinton  was  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  long-,  by 
one  hundred  feet  wide,  with  six  wooden  redoubts  for  bar- 
racks. It  was  situated  on  a  hill  south  of  the  Battenkill,  in 
the  present  town  of  Easton,  and  nearly  opposite  the  present 
brii'fre  across  the  river  at  Schuylerville,  as  appears  by  a 
manuscript  maji  of  the  province,  by  Cadwalladcr  Colden, 
Doc.  ix,  p.  79.  It  was  armed  with  twelve  cannons,  being 
six,  twelve  and  eighteen  pounders,  and  was  built  twice  tho 
size  of  the  old  fort.  One  hundred  bateaux  had  been  built 
here  as  well  as  six  hundred  at  Albany  for  the  second  Nichol- 
son expedition. 


5G 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


r:i: 


in  the  Battenkill ;  whereupon  La  Corne  offered 
his  double-barrel  gun  to  the  first  man  who 
should  bring  in  a  prisoner,  and  told  them  that 
after  the  first  volley  he  should  charge  the  fort, 
ax  in  hand.  The  same  day,  and  the  next,  the 
French  crossed  the  river.  The  next  day  he  sent 
twenty  men  on  the  road  to  Orange,  who  returned 
under  the  supposition  that  they  were  discovered. 
The  Indians  now  assembled  around  the  ofhcers, 
and  said  they  must  retreat,  but  these  gentle- 
men told  them  "  it  was  not  tile  custom  of  the 
French  to  retire  without  fighting,  when  so 
near  the  enemy,  and  they  were  able  to  defend 
themselves  against  this  number  of  men  if  they 
should  be  attacked."  The  young  braves  of 
the  Soult,  Xepissings,  Northern  Iroquois  and 
Huron s  said  they  would  not  desert  them.  Six 
scouts  were  then  sent  out  to  the  appointed 
place  to  lie  in  ambush,  and  to  pass  the  night 
within  eight  paces  of  the  fort,  with  directions 
to  fire  on  those  who,  the  next  morning,  should 
come  out  of  the  fort,  and  try  and  take  a  scalp, 
when  if  they  were  attacked  they  should  retreat, 
pretending  to  be  wounded.  This  was  accord- 
ingly done. 

On  the  morning  of  the  18th,  at  the  break  of 
day,  two  Englishmen  came  outside  the  gate,  and 
were  fired  on,  wdien  the  scouts  withdrew.     A 


m 


LAKE   CHAMPLAIN. 


57 


hundred  and  twenty  of  the  English,  headed  by 
their  officers,  then  came  out  of  the  fort,  and, 
having  formed  in  order,  marched  toward  the 
French,  making  a  wheel  so  as  to  get  near  them. 
They  halted  at  the  spot  which  the  scouts  had 
abandoned,  and  where  they  had  left  a  musket 
and  tomahawk.  At  this.  La  Corne  gave  the 
signal  for  the  French,  who  were  in  ambush,  to 
rise  and  fire,  which  was  accordingly  done,  and  the 
Enirlish  fired  back,  and  also  opened  with  cannon 
and  grape  from  the  fort.  The  Indians,  however, 
rushed  on,  tomahawk  in  hand,  and  routed  the 
English,  who  had  scarcely  time  to  shut  their 
ijates.  Some  threw  themselves  into  the  river 
and  were  killed  by  blows  of  the  hatchet  and  by 
gunshots.  Forty-five  prisoners  were  taken  and 
twenty-eight  scalps,  besides  those  who  were 
drowned. 

In  addition  to  the  expeditions  here  mentioned, 
were  a  large  number,  twenty-seven  in  all,  of 
petty  excursions,  comprising  from  ten  to  fifty 
men  each,  who  were  fitted  out  at  Montreal,  to 
take  the  route  of  Fort  St.  Frederick,  and  com- 
mit what  depredations  they  could  on  the  English 
settlements.  Their  object  was  to  harass,  murder, 
scalp,  burn  and  pillage,  and  this  was  what  they 
called  war.  They  required  but  little  supplies. 
They  passed  easily  through  the  w^oods  by  night 


r 

r 


S!  I 


68 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


and  by  clay.  Their  Imntiiig  lite  made  tliein 
familiar  with  every  mountain  pass,  and  the 
neighboring  thicket  or  stream  furnished  the 
necessary  provisions.  They  privately  approached 
the  settlements,  lay  in  wait  for  their  oppor- 
tunity, killed  or  took  prisoners,  and  were  off 
again  with  such  rapidity  that  pursuit  was  impos- 
sible. 

No  wonder  the  exposed  inhabitants  looked 
with  dismay  upon  this  fort,  as  a  terrible  and 
perpetual  menace,  and  taxed  themselves  heavily 
for  its  reduction.  In  New  York  alone,  the 
amount  expended  in  one  year  was  seventy  thou- 
sand pounds. 

The  following  partial  account,  applicable 
solely  to  the  locality  we  are  attemping  to  de- 
scribe, conveys  an  idea  of  the  zeal  and  energy 
with  which  the  French  authorities  pursued  this 
atrocious  system  of  warfare. 

March  29,  1746.  A  party  set  out,  consisting 
of  fourteen  Indians,  belonging  to  the  lake  of  the 
two  mountains  (on  the  river  St.  Lawrence),  who 
have  been  in  the  country,  near  Albany,  and 
returned  with  some  prisoners  and  scalps. 

2Cth.  A  party  of  thirty-five  warriors  belong- 
ing to  the  Soult  set  out.  They  have  been  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Orange,  have  made  some 
prisoners  and  taken  some  scalps. 


m 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIN. 


69 


11' 


27t]i.  A  party  set  out  consisting  of  six  war- 
riors, who  struck  a  blow  in  tlie  neiij-liborliood  of 
Albany. 

May  7.  Six  Xepissings  started  to  strike  a  blow 
near  Boston,  and  returned  with  some  scalps. 

lOtli.  Gatienonde,  an  Iroquois,  who  had  been 
settled  at  the  lake  for  two  or  three  years,  left 
with  iive  Indians  of  that  village  and  Lieut.  St. 
Blcin,  to  strike  a  blow  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Orange.  They  brought  in  one  prisoner.  Gatie- 
nonde, the  leader,  was  killed  and  scalped  by  the 
Indians  on  the  Held  of  battle. 

12th.  Ten  Indians  of  the  Soult  set  out  toward 
Boston,  and  returned  with  some  scalps. 

22d.  Nineteen  warriors  of  the  Soult  St,  Louis 
have  been  equipped.  They  have  been  made  to 
strike  a  blow  in  the  direction  of  Albany. 

24th.  A  party  of  eight  Abenakis  has  been 
fitted  out,  who  have  been  in  the  direction  of 
Corlac,*  and  have  returned  with  some  prisoners 
and  scalps. 

27th.  Equipped  a  party  of  eight  warriors  of 
Soult,  who  struck  a  blow  near  Albany,  and 
l)rought  back  six  scalps. 

28th.  A  party  of  twelve  Nepissings  made 
an  attack  in  the  neighborhood  of  Boston,  and 


«■ 
V 

I' 


'  Schenectady. 


60 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


broiiglit  away  fo*ur  scalps  and  one  i)risoner, 
whom  they  killed  on  the  road,  as  he  became 
furious  and  refused  to  march. 

A  party  of  Abenakis  struck  a  blow  near  Al- 
bany and  Corlac,  and  returned  with  some  scalps. 

June  2.  Equipped  twenty-five  warriors,  who 
returned  from  the  neighborhood  of  Albany  with 
some  scalps. 

3d.  Equipped  a  party  of  eighteen  Nepissings, 
who  struck  a  blow  at  Albany  and  Corlac. 

19tli.  Equipped  a  party  of  twenty-five  In- 
dians of  the  Soult,  who  struck  a  blow  near 
Orange.  One  or  two  of  these  Indians  were 
wounded.     They  brought  away  some  scalps. 

20th.  Equipped  a  party  of  nineteen  warriors 
of  the  Soult,  who  went  to  Orange  to  strike  a 
blow. 

21st.  Equipped  a  party  of  twenty-seven  of 
the  same  village,  to  go  to  Albany.  Sieur  De 
Carquiville,  an  officer,  was  of  this  party,  which 
has  brought  in  a  prisoner  that  was  on  the  scout 
to  Saristeau,*  and  some  scalps. 

August  10.  Chevalier  De  Eepentigny  arrived 
at  Quebec,  and  reported  that  he  had  made  an 
attack  near  Corlac,  and  took  eleven  prisoners 
and  twenty-five  scalps. 


Saraglitoga. 


LAKE   CIIAMl'LAIN. 


61 


Meanwliile  the  provincials  are  not  idle.  On 
the  4th  of  August  Col.  Johnson  had  sent  out 
two  parties  of  the  Six  Nations  to  Canada,  who 
made  an  attack  on  Chaniblay,  but  fell  into  an 
anil)uscade,  and  were  most  of  them  killed  or 
captured,  but  not  till  after  they  had  inflicted 
serious  damage  upon  the  Canadians.  lie  al:?© 
sent  a  party  of  twelve  men  on  a  scout  to  Crown 
Point. 

On  the  19th  he  writes  to  Gov.  Clinton  that 
one  of  his  parties,  on  their  return  from  the  lat- 
ter place,  had  reported  that  they  lay  two  days 
in  sight  of  the  enemy  on  Lake  St.  Sacrament, 
who,  to  the  number  of  between  five  hundred 
and  six  hundred  men,  were  encamped  upon  an 
island.* 

This  was  doubtless  a  part  of  the  force  under 
the  command  of  Sieur  de  Regaud  de  Vaudreuil, 
a  part  of  whose  command,  under  La  Come,  had 
been  engaged  in  the  affair  at  Saraghtoga.  His 
head  quarters  were  at  South  Bay.  Ilis  orders 
were  to  protect  Fort  St.  Frederick,  which  ho 
could  only  do  by  having  a  part  of  his  force  at 
the  latter  place,  and  part  on  Lake  St.  Sacra- 
nient.f 


ill 


*  Long  Island, 
f  Doc.  X,  114, 133, 148. 
6 


a 


62 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


i! 


Aug.  28.  Joliiison  writes  that  he  is  about  set- 
ting oft'  for  Lake  St.  Sacrament,  with  four  hun- 
dred Christians  volunteers,  and  as  many  more 
Indians,  and  expected  to  be  absent  for  twelve 
days.  It  is  possible  they  took  the  short  route 
via  Fish  House  and  Luzerne  to  the  lake. 

It  is  of  this  party  that  Sieur  Yilliers  speaks, 
on  his  return  from  Saraghtoga  in  the  month  of 
November.  He  says  that  he  sent  out  a  scout  to- 
the  portage  of  the  lake,  and  there  discovered 
a  large  abandoned  camping  ground.  Judging 
by  the  size  of  the  cabins  and  fires,  thinks  there 
might  have  been  six  hundred  men,  who  were  on 
their  return  toward  Corlac.  The  force  might 
have  been  there  a  month  ago. 

On  the  9th  of  December  Governor  Clinton 
reported  that  he  had  been  able  to  raise  twenty 
companies  in  all  for  the  coming  expedition 
against  Crown  Point  in  the  next  year.  They  con- 
sisted of  about  1,000  men,  under  the  command 
of  Lieut.-Col.  Roberts ;  Mr.  Gooch,  Lieut.-Gov- 
ernor  of  Virginia,  having  declined  the  command. 

In  the  fall  of  1747  Fort  Clinton  at  Saragh- 
toga was  burned,  and  the  guns  and  stores 
removed,  by  orders  of  Gov.  Clinton.  The 
avowed  reason  w^as,  that  the  Assembly  did  not 
furnish  enough  troops  and  supplies  to  protect  it 
from  the  attacks  of  the  French  and  Indians. 


LAKE   CHAMPLAIN. 


63 


May  1,  1748.  Ilortcl  Baubassin,  in  comniaud 
of  a  Bcouting  party  of  fourteen,  reported  that 
he  had  destroyed,  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Orange  (Albany),  thirty  houses,  three  small 
forts  (stockades),  and  one  mill. 

The  preliminaries  of  a  peace  between  the 
high  contracting  powers  were  signed  at  Aix-La- 
Cliapelle,  in  April  of  the  same  year.  The  pub- 
lication of  this  new^s  caused  a  cessation  of  hos- 
tilities throughout  the  colonies.  Again  the 
hatchet  was  buried.  The  pioneer  looked  out 
from  his  cabin  upon  the  green  crops,  and  the 
hospitable  smoke  ascended  from  the  deserted 
chinmey.  But  not  for  long.  Providence  had 
decreed  that  this  whole  continent  should  be 
under  the  dominion  of  the  Saxon,  though 
blood  ran  in  rivulets  to  attain  that  end. 


til 

*\\ 

I    I 

I 


--=-♦- 


CHAPTER  TV. 


Boundaries  unsettled  — iiisTonicAi.  question  — mr.  washinotov, 

ni8  INTERVIEW  WITH  ST.  I'lElinR  —  TANACIIIRAHEN  —  BATTLK  OP 
TlliS  GREAT  MEAU0W8  —  TUK  CONQREgS  OV  1754  —  COUNCIL  WITH  TITE 
FIVE  NATIONS. 

1754. 

'HE  boundaries  Lctwecn  Canada  and 
the  provinces  were  not  arranged  by 
the  peace  of  Aix-la-Chapelle.  The 
possession  of  Crown  Point  having 
been  passed  withon*"  dispute,  by  the  English 
commissioners,  for  the  settlement  of  the  terms 
of  peace,  this  was  construed  by  the  French  into 
an  acquiescence  in  tlieir  claim  of  title  to  the 
valley  of  Lake  Champlain. 

The  jurisdiction  also  of  the  entire  territory 
west  of  the  Alleghanies  was  left  undetermined, 
and  the  question  here  occurs  of  historical  interest 
as  to  the  right  which  either  nation  had  to  the 
country  in  dispnte.  England  vested  her  claim 
on  her  Indian  treaties  with  the  Six  Nations, 
who  pretended  that  at  some  remote  period  they 
liad  conquered  all  the  region  west  of  the  moun- 
tains, as  far  as  the  Mississippi  river,  and  on  the 
strength  of  this  assumption,  they  made  treaties 


LAKE    CIIAMI'LAIN. 


C5 


with  tlio  English,  ceding  to  tliein  the  lands 
within  iluA  Bimce,  and  conlinning  their  title, 
according  to  such  forms  as  were  prepared  for 
them.  Unfortnnately  for  the  validity  of  their 
title,  these  lands  v/ere  possessed  by  other  Indian 
tribes  dwelling  tlure,  and  whose  ancestors,  from 
time  immemorial,  had  also  occupied  them. 
These  declared  thomselves  the  only  rightful 
owners,  and  denied  that  the  Six  Nations  had 
any  authority  or  foundation  of  a  claim  over 
tlicm. 

The  French  insisted  as  well  upon  the  right  of 
oc^jupancy  as  that  of  discovery.  Settlements 
had  been  made,  they  said,  south  of  Lake  Michi- 
gan and  on  the  Illinois  r'ver,  years  before  any 
Englishman  had  set  his  foot  westward  of  the 
great  mountains ;  and  tho  respective  treaties 
between  the  countries  had  repeatedly  recognized 
the  title  of  France  to  all  her  actual  possessions 
in  America.  So  far  the  position  was  tenahle  ; 
but  the  French  went  a  step  further.  They 
maintained  it  to  be  an  axiom  in  the  law  of 
nations  that  the  discovery  of  a  river  gave  the 
explorer  a  right  to  all  the  country  watered  by 
the  streams  flowing  into  it.  Hence,  the  passing 
of  La  Salle  through  the  great  lakes  and  down 
the  Mississippi  in  a  canoe,  gave  to  France  a 
title  to  the  immense  country  bounded  by  the 


I 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


Alleglianies  on  one  Bide,  and  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains on  the  other.  Such  a  hypotliesis  may  be 
gravely  advanced  or  ingeniously  defended,  but 
its  fallacy  is  too  obvious  to  be  pointed  out.  The 
truth  is,  neither  of  the  contending  parties  had 
any  just  claims  to  these  lands.  They  were 
both  intruders,  and  it  was  not  strange  that 
the  native  occupants  should  look  with  astonish- 
ment at  the  singular  spectacle  of  two  nations  in 
distant  pai'ts  of  the  world,  unknown  to  them 
except  as  traders  for  skins,  entering  into  a 
quarrel  about  the  right  of  seizing  upon  their 
property.* 

The  claims  of  the  Aborigines  did  not  affect 
the  movements  of  either  party  ;  each  hurried  to 
possess  itself,  in  advance,  of  as  much  territory 
as  possible.  The  French  proceeded  to  build 
forts  and  establish  settlements  at  Oswegatcliie,t 
Toronto,  La  Boeuf  on  French  creek  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  Duquesne.:}:  At  the  latter  place 
they  drove  out  the  English  traders  who  had 
already  settled  there,  and  jirocceded  to  finish 
the  fort  which  had  been  commenced  by  the 
Ohio  company. 


*  Sparks. 

f  OgtlensLurgh. 

:|:  Now  Pittsburgh. 


LAKE   CIIAMrLAIN. 


67 


Gov  Dinwuldie,  tlirougli  ]\[r.  Oeorn;o  AVash- 
ington,  complained  of  tliese  encroacliineiits,  but 
to  no  pnrpose.  "Wasliington  set  out  from  Wil- 
liamsburgli,  the  capital  of  Virginia,  on  the  last 
day  of  October,  1753.  The  distance  was  about 
five  hundred  and  sixty  miles,  in  great  part  over 
rugged  mountains,  and  over  half  the  way  through 
tlic  heart  of  a  wilderness,  where  there  were  no 
traces  of  civilization.  lie  was  accompanied  by 
eight  persons,  among  whom  was  Tenacharison, 
a  sachem  of  the  Delawares,  known  as  the  Half 
King.  The  party  was  forty-one  days  upon  their 
journey.  The  commandant  of  the  fort  was  JVf. 
de  St.  Pierre,  a  Knight  of  the  Military  Order 
of  St.  Louis,  and  a  polite  and  courteous  officer.* 

The  Governor's  letter  asserted  that  the  lands 
on  the  Ohio  belonged  to  the  British  Crown ; 
expressed  surprise  at  the  French  encroachments ; 
demanded  by  whose  authority  an  armed  force 
had  crossed,  the  lakes,  and  urged  a  speedy 
departure. 

St.  Pierre  replied,  in  the  style  of  a  soldier, 
that  it  did  not  belong  to  him  to  discuss  treaties, 
referred  him  to  the  Marquis  Duquesne,  Gover- 
nor of  Canada,  by  whose  orders  he  was  acting, 

*  St.  Pierre  served  under  De^kan,  ati<l  was  killed  at  tlio 
battle  of  Lake  George. 


S; 


( » » 


; 


68 


LAKE   GEOROE   AND 


and  tliat  the  summons  to  retire  could  not  be 
complied  with.* 

After  a  stay  of  two  days,  "Washington  started 
on  his  return,  provided  by  St.  Pierre  with  a 
canoe,  which  was  plentifully  stocked  with  pro- 
visions, liquors,  and  every  other  supply  the  fort 
could  afford.  "With  this  they  proceeded  to 
Yenango,  one  hundred  and  thirty  miles,  and 
performed  tlie  rest  of  the  journey  home  by  land. 

On  the  27th  of  May,  1754,  at  the  Great 
Meadows,  in  the  valley  of  the  Kanawha,  Col. 
Washington,  aided  by  the  Mingo  chiefs,  made 


*  TUe  following^  is  an  extract  of  the  siicocli  made  by  Tan- 
acliarison  to  the  Frcncli  commander:  "  Fathers,  Loth  you 
and  the  Eng-lish  are  white.  We  live  in  a  country  between. 
Tlierefore  the  land  belongs  to  neither  the  one  nor  the  other, 
but  the  Great  Beinpf  above  allowed  it  to  be  a  place  of  resi- 
dence for  us.  So,  fathers,  I  desire  you  to  withdraw,  aa  I 
have  done  our  brothers  the  English,  for  I  mean  to  keep  you 
both  at  arm's  length.  I  lay  this  down  as  a  trial  for  both, 
and  whichever  has  the  greater  regard  for  it,  to  that  side  wo 
will  stand  and  make  equal  sharers  with  us."  These  are  the 
sentiments  of  a  patriot  and  a  hero.  But  this  high-minded 
savage  was  not  aware  that,  so  far  as  his  race  was  concerned, 
there  was  no  difference  between  his  professed  friends  and 
open  enemies.  He  had  never  studied  in  the  school  of  poli- 
tics, which  finds  in  the  laws  of  nations  an  excuse  for  rapac- 
ity and  injustice,  nor  learned  that  it  was  the  prerogative 
of  civilization  to  prey  upon  the  ignorant  and  the  defenseless. 
JSpar/cs. 


LAKE   CHAMPLAIN. 


G9 


ail  attack  upon  a  French  force  under  tlie  com- 
mand of  De  Joumonville.  Perceiving  tlie  Frencli 
approacli,  "Fire,"  said  Washington,  and  with 
his  own  musket  gave  the  example.  That  word 
of  command  kindled  the  world  into  a  flame.  It 
was  the  signal  for  the  first  great  war  of  revolu- 
tion. There  in  the  western  forest  began  the 
hattle  which  was  to  banish  from  the  soil  and 
neighborhood  of  our  republic  the  institutions  of 
the  middle  age,  and  to  inflict  on  them  fatal 
wounds  throughout  the  continent  of  Europe. 
In  repelling  France  from  the  basin  of  the  Ohio, 
Washington  broke  the  repose  of  mankind,  and 
waked  a  struggle  which  could  admit  only  of  a 
trace  till  the  ancient  bulwarks  of  Catholic  lejriti- 
macv  were  thrown  down.* 

On  the  19th  of  June,  there  assembled,  at  the 
court-house  in  Albanv,  the  memorable  congjress 
of  commissioners  from  every  colony  north  of  the 
Potomac.  The  most  illustrious  names  of  that 
day  are  found  among  its  annals.  DeLancy,  .the 
Lieutenant-Governor  of  Xew  York;  Hutchin- 
son, the  historian,  of  Massachusetts  ;  the  patriot 
Hopkins,  of  Pliode  Island  ;  Tasker,  of  Mary- 
land ;  the  liberal  Smith  of  Xew  York  ;  William 
Johnson  lately  aj^pointed  one  of  the  government 

*  Bancroft. 


m 

% 

\        \ 

H 


'i     I 


70 


LAKE   GEOKGE   AND 


coiiTieilors,  and  Benjamin  Franklin,  of  Pcnn- 
Bj'lvania,  who  Lad  already  "  projected  "  a  jdan 
of  a  Constitution  fora  perpetnal  confederacy  of 
the  continent,  and  had  brought  the  heads  of  it 
Avith  him.  They  met  to  concert  measures  of 
defense  against  the  incursions  of  the  French  on 
the  north,  and  to  treat  ■with  the  Six  Nations 
and  the  tribes  in  their  alliance. 

For  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  Crovm 
Pointy  built  far  within  the  English  territories, 
on  ground  ceded  by  the  Six  Xations  to  the 
Crown,  was  a  standing  nuisance  to  the  colonies, 
repressing  all  settlements  in  that  direction,  and 
threatening  devastation  and  ruin  to  every  in- 
hal)itant  north  of  Albany. 

The  reasons  for  the  appointment  of  the  con- 
vention at  the  above  city,  are  set  forth  in  a 
communication  from  Gov.  DeLancy  to  the  Board 
of  Trade,  of  the  24th  of  December,  1753.  "  Here 
was  the  usual  place  of  holding  general  con- 
fere;ices  with  the  Indians.  Here  they  had  had 
a  tire  burning  since  the  earliest  settlement  of 
this  country.  It  was  situated  in  the  liighest 
part  of  the  Hudson  river,  navigable  for  vessels  of 
any  considerable  burden,  and  throngh  which 
all  intercourse  between  Schenectady,  a  town 
sixteen  miles  westward,  and  the  western  settle- 
ments, is  carried  on  with  Xcw  York.     Again, 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAm. 


n 


the  Indians,  by  coming  down  to  All)any  upon 
tlieir  public  business,  contract  liabitudes  and 
acquire  fricndsliips  with  some  of  tlie  inliabit- 
ants,  and  a  kind  of  ri<i;hts  of  hospitality  ;  and, 
if  treated  with  any  sort  of  civility,  will  always 
be  ready  and  willing  to  protect  and  defend  the 
place." 

During  the  discussion  of  the  federative  com- 
pact, the  rejDresentatives  of  the  red  men  assem- 
bled to  the  number  of  one  hundred  and  iifty. 
The  Six  Nations  comprised  the  Mohawks,  Onci- 
das,  Onondagas,  Senecas,  Tuscaroras  and  Cayu- 
gas.  They  occupied  the  lands  lying  between 
the  liock  Regiochne  and  the  Potomac  river,  and 
claimed  those  extending  westward  for  an  indefi- 
nite distance,  but  so  as  to  include  the  Ohio  val- 
ley. Persons  wishing  lands  usually  purchased 
them  from  the  Indians,  and  then  took  out  a 
patent  for  them  from  the  Crown.  The  main 
bodies  of  the  tribes  resided  along  the  valley  of 
the  Mohawk,  and  extended  west  to  Lake  Erie. 
By  their  friendships  and  good  will  the  western 
side  of  the  settlements  of  Pennsylvania,  New 
York,  Maryland  and  Virginia,  were  protec.'ted 
from  the  incursions  of  the  French  or  hostile 
Indians.  While,  therefore,  at  all  times,  it  was 
necessary  to  propitiate  their  good  will,  it  was 
particularly  desirable  to  now  cultivate  with  them 


t:. 


,,,ii 


4 


73 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


a  good  understanding,  by  reason  of  the  contem- 
plated and  simultaneous  attacks  to  be  made  upon 
the  French  forts  at  Duquesne,  Niagara  and 
Crown  Point.  Nothing  can  exceed  the  decorum 
with  which  the  Indian  public  councils  were  con- 
ducted. Their  assemblies  were  composed  of 
men,  women  and  children.  The  bnsiness  was 
arranged  by  two  or  three  sachems,  selected  for 
their  abilities.  They  usually  formed  in  a  semi- 
circle, the  old  men  and  the  sachems  in  the  front 
rank,  the  warriors  in  the  next  rank,  and  the 
women  and  children  last.  It  was  the  business 
of  the  women  to  take  exact  notice  of  what 
passed,  imprint  it  in  their  memories  —  for  they 
had  no  writiiiG^  —  and  communicate  it  to  their 
children.  They  were  the  records  of  the  council, 
and  they  preserved  the  traditions  of  the  stipula- 
tions in  their  treaties  for  a  hundred  years  back, 
which  were  always  found  to  be  exact.  "All 
being  seated  and  in  order,  he  that  would  speak 
rises,  the  rest  observing  a  profound  silence. 
When  he  has  expressed  a  point,  one  or  more 
strings  of  wampum  are  given  in  order  to  enforce 
the  memory.  When  he  exju'csses  another  point, 
another  string,  or  perhaps  a  belt  is  given,  de- 
pending upon  its  importance,  and  so  on  until 
the  discourse  is  finished.  A  day  or  more  is  then 
taken  for  the  consideration  of  the  address,  when 


LAKE   CHAM  PLAIN. 


73 


the  answer  is  prepared  and  delivered  in  the  same 
manner."*  The  first  audience  seems  to  have 
heen  granted  to  a  deputation  of  the  Stockbridge 
or  River  Indians,  who  liad  not  been  invited,  and 
with  whom  it  was  at  first  uncertain  whetlier  an 
audience  shouhl  be  granted  or  not.  Tiieir  com- 
phunts  related  to  the  sad  effects  arising  from  the 
sale  of  rum  in  their  respective  countries,  and 
the  systematic  overreaching  of  the  whites  in 
relation  to  the  sales  of  their  lands.  The  Gov- 
ernor, in  reply,  promised  to  see  the  laws  in  rela- 
tion to  the  trafUc  in  liquor  enforced,  and  to 
examine  into  the  alleged  frauds  in  regard  to 
the  sales  of  their  lands.  The  next  audience 
was  given  to  a  deputation  of  the  lower  castle  of 
the  Mohawks,  who  stated,  through  Canadagara, 
their  speaker,  that  they  came  by  God's  will  and 
His  Honor's  order ;  that  this  was  their  old 
meeting  place,  where  they  expected  a  redress  of 
their  grievances,  that  so  they  might  part  good 
friends. 

They  then  went  on  to  specify  that  a  large 
tract  of  land  called  the  Kayaderosseras,  had 
been  taken  up,  commencing  at  the  Ilalfmoon, 
and  so  up  along  the  Hudson  river  to  the  Third 
Fall,   thence  to   the   Cacknowaga  or    Canada 


( 


11 


*  Franklin. 


u 


LAKE   Oi:ORGE   AND 


creek,  wliicli,  \ii)on  iiKjiiiiy  among  their  old 
men,  they  could  not  find  was  ever  sold.'^  Tlie 
Governor  replied  it  was  agreeable  to  justice  to 
Lear  both  parties  before  a  judgment  was  given, 
and  he  would  send  for  the  patentees  or  persons 
claiming  the  land,  and  hear  what  tliey  had  to 
say,  when  justice  should  be  done.  On  the  22d 
of  July  the  Governor  wrote  to  the  Board  of 
Trade  that  he  had  sent  for  some  of  the  owners 
of  the  Kayaderosseras  patent,  who  produced  an 
Indian  deed  and  a  patent  granted  in  November, 
1708,  but  the  bounds  seemed  to  be  larger  than 
the  Indian  deed. 

All  this  was  preliminary  to  the  great  council 
of  the  sachems  of  the  Six  Nations,  who  were 
received  the  next  day.  After  some  prelinuna- 
ries,  the  Lieut.-Governor  stated  that  tlie  French, 
while  professing  to  be  in  perfect  friendship, 
were  making  continual  encroachments  in  the 
most  insulting  manner,  both  to  the  north  and 
west.  "  Your  Others,"  he  said,  "  by  their  valor, 
above  one  hundred  years  ago,  made  a  conquest 
of  the  country,  which  they  afterward,  of  their 
own   accord,  put  under  the  protection  of  the 


*Oii  Montrose's  map,  date  1775,  the  crock  is  spelled 
"  Canidadrosscras  "  and  "  Coniaderosseras."  also  spelled 
"  Cayaderossora."    Vol.  xxxii,  Laud  Papers. 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIN. 


75 


King  of  Great  Britain.  Tlio  Frcncli  arc 
endeavoring  to  possess  themselves  of  this  whole 
country,  although  they  have  made  tlie  most 
express  treaties  witli  the  English  to  the  con- 
trary. Brethren,  it  aj^pears  to  ns  that  these 
measures  of  the  French  must  necessarilv  soon 
interrupt  and  destroy  all  trade  and  intercourse 
■with  tlic  English  and  the  several  Indian  nations 
on  the  continent.  We  want  to  know  whether 
tliese  things  appear  to  you  in  the  same  light  as 
tliey  do  to  us,  or  whether  the  French  building 
forts  and  taking  possession  of  your  country  he 
done  with  your  consent  and  approbation. 
Brethren,  open  your  hearts  to  us ;  deal  with  us 
as  brethren  ;  we  are  ready  to  consult  with  you 
how  to  scatter  these  clouds  that  hang  over  us. 
This  is  a  matter  of  so  great  weiglit  that  we 
thiidv  it  best  to  defer  mentioning  any  other 
affairs  till  you  have  considered  this,  lest  they 
should  take  away  part  of  that  attention  which 
is  necessary  on  so  extraordinary  an  occasion." 
[Gives  a  belt.] 

But  it  seems  that  the  Six  Kations  had  some 
other  grievances  to  be  settled  before  they  would 
enter  upon  the  main  business  which  the  Gover- 
nor and  commissioners  had  so  much  at  heart. 
"Last  summer,"  says  Ilendrick,  their  speaker, 
"we  of  Canajoharie  [the  upper  castle  of  the 


<> 


iill 


h 

If! 

ri 


7G 


LAKE   OKOROE   AND 


i 


1 

I 


Mohawks]  went  down  to  New  York  to  make 
onr  coniplaintf^,  and  we  then  thought  the  cove- 
nant claim  was  broken,  because  we  were 
neglected ;  and  when  you  neglect  business,  the 
French  take  advantage  of  it,  for  they  are  never 
quiet.  It  seemed  to  us  that  the  Governor  had 
turned  his  back  upon  the  Five  Nations,  as  if 
they  were  no  more ;  whereas  the  French  are 
doing  all  in  their  power  to  draw  us  over  to 
them.  AVe  blamed  the  Governor  last  summer 
for  this  neglect,  while  the  French  were  drawing 
the  Five  Nations  away  to  Oswagatchie,  which 
might  have  been  prevented  if  proper  use  had 
been  made  of  that  warning,  but  now  we  are 
afraid  it  is  too  late.  In  former  times  Col. 
Schuyler  used  frequently  to  come  among  us, 
and  by  this  means  we  were  kept  together. 
Brother,  we,  the  Mohawks,  are  in  difficult  cir- 
cumstances, and  are  blamed  for  things  we  don't 
deserve.  There  are  some  of  our  people  who  have 
large  ears,  and  talk  a  little  broken  English  and 
Dutch,  so  that  they  eometimes  hear  what  is  said 
by  the  Christian  settlers  near  them,  and  by  this 
means  we  came  to  understand  that  we  are 
looked  upon  to  be  a  proud  nation,  and  therefore 
stayed  behind." 

The  Governor  made  a  fitting  reply,  caution- 
ing them  not  to  hearken  to  common  reports, 


iL 


LAKE   CIIAMT'LAIN. 


11 


"  but  to  open  their  liearts  to  each  other,  and  so 
remove  any  jealousies  tliat  may  exist  among  us." 
On  Tuesday,  July  2d,  in  the  presence  of  tho 
several  Governors  and  councilors,  the  answer  of 
the  Six  Nations  was  made  to  the  general  speech 
of  the  Governor.  All  being  seated,  -Abraham, 
a  sachem  of  the  upper  castle,  arose  and  raid : 
"  Erethren,  you,  the  Governor  of  New  York  and 
the  other  Governors,  are  you  ready  to  hear  us  ?'* 
The  Governor  replied  they  were  ready.  Then 
Ilendrick  rose  up  and  spoke  as  follows: 
"  Brother  Corlear  and  brothers :  Saturday  last 
you  told  us  that  you  came  here  by  orders  of 
the  great  King,  our  common  father,  and  in  his 
name  to  renew  the  ancient  chain  and  friendship 
between  this  and  the  other  governments  on  the 
continent  and  the  six  united  nations.  "\Ye 
rejoice  that  by  the  King's  orders  we  are  all  met 
liere  this  day,  and  are  glad  to  see  each  other 
face  to  face.  Brethren,  we  thank  you  in  the 
most  hearty  manner  for  your  condolence  to  us. 
We  also  condole  all  your  friends  and  relatives 
who  have  died  since  our  last  meeting  here." 
[Gave  them  strings  of  wampum.]  "  Brethren, 
we  return  you  [holding  up  the  chain  belt  given 
by  His  Honor]  all  our  grateful  acknowledgments 
for  renewing  and  brightening  the  covenant 
chain.     We  will  take  it  to  Onondaga,  where 


}i 

Hi 

li 

it 


t  * 


It'; 


1 » 


'if 
It 


1^* 


i^ 


78 


LAKE   OEORGK   AND 


our  council  lire  always  burns,  and  keep  it  so 
securely   that   neither  thunder    nor    lightning 
shall  break  it.     There  we  will  consult  over  it, 
and  as  we  have  lately  added  two  links  to  it 
[referring  to  two  more  nations  who  had  joined 
their  league],  so  we  will  use  our  endeavors  to 
add  as  many  more  links  to   it   as  lies  in  our 
powei'.     We  now  solemnly  renew  and  brighten 
the  covenant  chain  with  our  brethren  here  pres- 
ent, and  with  all  our  other  absent  brethren  on 
the  continent.     Brethren,  as  to  the  account  you 
have  heard  of  our  being  dispersed  from  each 
other,  'tis  very  true.    You  have  asked  us  the 
reason.     The  reason  is,  your  neglecting  us  for 
these  three  years  past."     [Then  taking  a  stick 
and  throwing  it  behind  him.]     "  You  have  thus 
thrown  us  behind  your  back  and  disregarded 
us;  whereas  the  French  are  a  subtle  and  vigi- 
lant people,  ever  using  their  endeavors  to  induce 
and  bring  our  people  over  to  them."     [Gave  a 
belt.]     "As  to  the  encroachments  of  the  French, 
we  have  made  a  strict  inquiry  among  all  our 
people,  and  we  cannot  find  that  either  any  sale 
has  been  made  or  leave  been  given ;  but  the 
French  have  gone  thither  and  built  tlioir  forts 
and  occupied  the  land  without  our  consent  or 
approbation.     Brethren,  the  Governor  of  Vir- 
ginia and  the  Governor  of  Canada  are   both 


LAKE   CIIAMrLATN. 


79 


quarreling  about  lands  -svliich  belong  to  us,  and 
such  a  quarrel  as  this  may  end  in  our  destruc- 
tion. JJrethren,  it  is  true,  as  you  told  us,  that 
the  cloud  hangs  heavy  over  us,  and  'tis  not  very 
pleasant  to  look  up  ;  but  we  give  you  this  belt 
to  clear  away  all  clouds,  that  wo  may  live 
in  bright  sunshine  and  keep  together  in  strict 
union  and  friendship."  [Gave  a  belt.] 
*' Brethren,  this  is  the  ancient  rdace  of  treaty, 
where  the  fire  of  friendship  always  used  to 
burn,  and  'tis  now  three  years  since  we  have 
been  called  to  any  public  treaty  here.  'Tis  true 
there  are  commissioners  here,  but  they  have 
never  invited  us  to  smoke  with  them,  but  the 
Indians  of  Canada  come  frequently  and  smoke 
here,  which  is  for  the  sake  of  their  beaver ;  but 
we  hate  them  [meaning  the  French  Indians] ; 
we  have  not  as  yet  confirmed  the  peace  with 
them.  'Tis  your  fault,  brethren,  that  we  are  not 
strengthened  by  conquest,  for  we  would  have 
gone  and  taken  Crown  Point,  but  you  hindered 
us.  "We  had  concluded  to  go  and  take  it,  but 
we  were  told  it  was  too  late,  and  that  the  ice 
would  not  bear  ns.  Instead  of  this,  vou  burned 
your  own  fort  at  Saraglitoga,  and  ran  away  from 
it,  which  was  a  shame  and  a  scandal  to  yon. 
Look  about  your  country  and  see.  You  have 
no  fortifications  about  you  ;  no,  not  even  in  this 


f 


'.  f' 


If  I. 


\k 


w 


!• 


80 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


city.  'Tis  but  one  step  from  Canada  hitlier, 
and  the  Frencli  may  easily  come  and  turn  -ou 
out  of  your  doors.  Brethren,  you  were  desir- 
ous that  we  should  open  our  minds  and  our 
hearts  to  you.  Look  at  the  French.  They  are 
men  ;  they  are  fortifying  everywhere  ;  but,  we 
are  ashamed  to  say  it,  you  are  like  women,  bare 
and  open,  without  any  fortifications." 

Here  Ifcndrick  ended  his  speech,  when  the 
sachem  Abraham  arose  and  stated  that  when 
Col.  Johnson  had  laid  down  the  management  of 
Indian  affairs  it  had  caused  them  a  great  uneasi- 
ness. They  desired  that  he  be  re-instated,  for 
they  all  lived  hapj^y  under  his  management. 
"  "We  love  him  and  he  us,  and  lie  has  always 
been  Oiir  good  and  trusty  friend.  Brethren,  I  for- 
got something.  We  think  our  request  about  Col. 
Johnson,  which  Gov.  Clinton  promised  to  carry 
to  tho  King,  our  father,  is  drowned  in  the  seu.'* 

To  this  the  Governor  the  next  day  replied  to 
the  effect  that  it  gave  the  commissioners  great 
pleasure  to  see  them  so  ready  to  renew  and 
brighten  the  ancient  chain  of  friendship.  They 
were  sorry  any  neglect  had  been  shown  them, 
and  hoped  nothing  of  the  kind  would  happen 
hereafter.  They  were  glad  they  gave  no  coun- 
tenance to  the  French,  and  were  surju'ised  to 
hear  that  the  Governor  of  Virginia  and  Caiiada 


i 


LAKE   CIIAMPLATN. 


81 


were  figlitiiig  about  lands  beloiigino;  to  them. 

ificent  lor  virj 


Here  Mr.  Wiesar 


id  Penu- 


lt for  Virginia 
Bylvania,  made  satisfactory  explanations  to  the 
effect  that  the  road  they  had  complained  of 
had  been  traveled  by  the  traders  to  Ohio  for 
thirty  years,  when  the  Governor  said : 

"brethren,  you  told  us  w^e  were  open  and 
defenseless.  We  are  consulting  how  far  it  will 
be  necessary  to  fortify  our  frontier,  at  the  same 
time  we  expect  you  to  take  care  to  keep  your 
people  from  going  over  to  the  French." 

The  rejoinder  of  the  Six  Nations  was  spoken 
by  Ilendrick,  on  the  fifth  of  July.  After 
expressing  his  pleasure  at  the  mutual  and  satis- 
factory arrangements  of  their  respective  differ- 
ences, he  said : 

"  Brethren,  we  put  you  in  mind  from  our 
former  speech,  of  the  defenseless  state  of  your 
frontiers,  particularly  of  this  city,  of  Schenec- 
tady, and  of  the  country  of  the  Five  Nations. 
You  told  us  yesterday  you  were  consulting 
about  securing  both.  We  beg  you  will  resolve 
upon  something  speedily.  You  are  not  safe 
from  danger  one  day.  The  French  have  their 
hatchet  ii  their  hands  both  at  Ohio  and  in  two 
places  in  New  England.  We  don't  know  but 
tliis  very  night  tliey  may  attack  us.  Since  Col. 
Johnson  has  been  in  this  citv  there  has  been  a 


i 


B2 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


Frencli  Indian  at  liis  house,  wlio  took  measure 
of  the  wall  around  it,  and  made  very  narrow 
observations  on  every  thing  thereabouts.  We 
think  Col.  Johnson  in  very  great  danger,  because 
the  French  will  take  more  than  ordinary  pains 
to  kill  him  or  to  take  him  prisoner,  both  on 
account  of  liis  great  interest  among  us  and 
because  he  is  one  of  our  sachems."  [Upon  this 
they  gave  four  strings  of  wampum.] 

"  Brethren,  there  is  an  affair  about  which  our 
hearts  tremble  and  our  minds  are  deeply  con- 
cerned. "We  refer  to  the  selling  of  rum  in  our 
castles.  It  destroys  many,  both  of  our  old  and 
young  people.  AVe  are  in  great  fears  about  this 
rum.  It  may  cause  murder  on  both  sides.  "We, 
the  Mohawks  of  both  castles,  request  that  the 
people  who  are  settled  round  about  us  may  not 
be  suffered  to  sell  our  people  rum.  It  keeps 
them  all  poor,  and  makes  them  idle  and  wicked. 
If  they  have  any  money  or  goods  they  lay  all 
out  in  rum.  It  destroys  virtue  and  the  progress 
of  religion  among  us.  "We  now  have  a  friendly 
request  to  make  to  the  Governors  here  present, 
that  they  will  help  us  build  a  church  at  Canajo- 
liarie,  and  that  we  may  have  a  bell  in  it,  which, 
tog3ther  with  the  putting  a  stop  to  the  sale  of 
rum,  will  tend  to  make  us  religious  and  to  lead 
to  better  lives  than  we  do  now." 


mm^ 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIN. 


83 


The  Governor  promised  satisfaction,  and  then 
stated,  before  lie  covered  up  the  fire,  tliat  he  had 
ordered  thirty  wagons  to  carry  up  the  presents 
to  Schenectady,  also  some  provisions  for  the 
journey,  with  wliich  the  conference,  so  far  as 
regarded  the  Indians,  broke  up. 

After  some  weeks  of  deliberation  the  "  Plan 
of  Union  "  was  completed.  It  was  not  satisfac- 
tory, however,  either  to  the  Crown  or  to  the 
people.  It  was  reserved  for  another  day  and 
place  —  twenty-two  years  after,  at  Independence 
Hall,  in  Philadelphia,  on  the  fourth  day  of  July, 
1776  —  to  complete  those  "  Articles  of  Confed- 
eration," which  formed  the  United  States  of 
America, 


It 
I 

i: 


I 


CHAPTER  V. 


Col.  vrx.  johnson  ArroiNTBD  to  the  command  of  tite  troops  —  thb 

CHEAT  COUNCIL  WITH  THE  INDIANS  —  KAaUSWUOUTIONA,   ALIAS    RED 
HEAD  —  CONOCHQUIESIE  —  LYDIUS. 

1755. 

"^^iS"  the  ICtli  of  April,  1755,  a  commis- 
sion was  issued  to  Col.  Wm.  Johnson, 
appointing  him  a  major-general.  It 
recited  that  the  governments  of  Mas- 
sachusetts Bay,  New  Hampshire,  Connecticut, 
Rhode  Island  and  New  York,  had  raised,  re- 
spectively, a  body  of  men,  amounting  in  all  to 
about  four  thousand,  to  be  employed  "in  an 
attempt  to  erect  a  strong  fortress  upon  an  emi- 
nence near  the  French  fort  at  Crown  Point,  and 
for  removing  the  encroachments  of  the  French 
upon  Ilis  Majesty's  lands  in  that  quarter." 

The  quota  to  be  raised  by  the  respective 
colonies  was  as  follows :  New  Hampshire,  six 
hundred ;  Connecticut,  one  thousand ;  Rhode 
Island,  four  hundred ;  New  York,  eight  hun- 
dred ;  Massachusetts,  twelve  hundred.  The 
expenses  for  the  expedition  were  £20,000,  which 
appear  to  have  been  furnished  by  the  British 


LAKE   CHAMPLAIX. 


85 


government  on  tlie  credit  of  Gov.  Braddoclc,  to 
be  assessed  on  the  colonies  in  about  the  above 
proportion. 

The  appointment  of  Jolinson  to  the  command 
of  the  expedition  was  in  consequence  of  a  coun- 
cil of  Governors  held  at  Alexandria,  in  Virginia, 
April  l-ith,  of  the  same  year.  This  meeting 
was  presided  over  by  Gen.  Edward  Braddock, 
Commander-in-chief  of  His  Majesty's  forces  in 
Korth  America. 

This  council  expressed  their  approbation  of 
the  attack  proposed  to  be  made  by  the  General 
upon  Crown  Point  and  Niagara,  as  being  "  un- 
doubted encroachments  made  by  the  French 
upon  His  Majesty's  dominions,"  and  gave  it  as 
their  unanimous  opinion  that  Col.  Johnson  was 
the  "  })ropere3t  person  to  have  the  command  of 
the  expedition  to  Crown  Point." 

Gen.  Johnson  proceeded  to  make  adequate 
preparations  for  the  campaign. 

On  the  29th  of  Mav,  he  writes  to  Gov.  De 
Lancy  that  "  the  six  eigliteen-pounders  and  the 
four  tield  pieces  are  too  few  for"  the  number  of 
troops  destined  for  this  service,"  and  requests 
four  more  of  each  kind ;  also  a  quartermaster 
and  an  engineer  for  the  artillery. 

June  18.  Mr.  George  Banyar,  colonial  secre- 
tary, on  behalf  of  the  Governor,  reports  that  he 
8 


^ 


k  (^: 


issi^saaamimm 


t 

1         IT' 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 

would  have  the  carriaores  for  the  tew  heavy  £2;uns 
made  in  New  York,  while  Johnson  slionld  have 
the  carriages  for  the  brass  field-pieces  made  at 
Albany.  "  Capt.  Eyre,  being  on  the  spot,  will 
give  the  proper  directions  to  the  workmen.  If 
you  have  not  sponges,  saddles,  etc.,  mention 
what  is  wanted,  and  we  will  endeavor  to  have 
them  sent  with  the  other  things.  If  there  be 
not  enough  ball,  send  down  one  of  the  shot 
that  is  a  pattern.  The  ten  large  bateaux  for 
the  cannon  must  be  made  at  Albany.  The 
carriages  we  saw  at  Alexandria  had  apart- 
ments in  them  for  powder  and  shot,  which  I 
think  very  necessary,  as  the  guns  may  be  nsed 
on  the  march.  Those  made  at  Albany  were 
done  by  Garret  Lansing,  and  Mr.  Dies  desires 
me  to  caution  you  against  making  them  too 
heavy." 

The  artillery  train  appears  to  have  been  a 
source  of  equally  anxious  care  on  the  part  of 
the  provincial  authorities.  On  the  5tli  of  July 
the  assembly  ordered  the  sum  of  nine  hundred 
and  forty-four  •  pounds  to  be  paid  toward  the 
train,  in  addition  to  two  thousand  pounds  pre- 
viously advanced  for  the  same.  One  thousand 
pounds  was  .also  advanced  on  the  security  of 
part  of*  the  provisions  allowed  by  the  colony  of 
Pennsylvania.    Gov.  Shirley  also  furnished  fifty 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIN. 


87 


one  liiindi'ed  and  fifty-two  pounds  for  the  same 
service,  wliicli  completed  tlie  whole  estimate  for 
the  train  of  artillery.'* 

The  ammunition  for  the  same  not  being  suf- 
ficient, fifty-two  barrels  of  powder  additional 
were  taken  from  the  Niagara  expedition,  and 
placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  commander.  An 
allowance  was  proposed  to  be  made  to  Gen. 
Johnson  of  but  £25  for  his  personal  expenses, 
which  he  claimed  was  not  enough. 

"  I  am  far  from  intending  or  desiring,"  writes 
Johnson,  "  a  support  for  a  vain  or  useless  osten- 
tation, but  the  council  will,  I  presume,  think  it 
necessary  that  I  sustain  the  honor  conferred 
upon  me  with  a  decent  dignity.     The  troops 


*  The  8ul)sequeni  history  of  Johnson's  park  of  artillery 
possesses  some  points  of  public  interest.  It  was  turned  over 
to  the  victorious  French  troops  at  the  disastrous  surrender 
of  Monroe  to  Montcalm ;  abandoned  to  the  English  at  tho 
capture  of  Ticoud(!roga  and  Crown  Point  by  Lord  Amherst ; 
eabse(iuently  captured  by  Cols.  Ethan  Allen  and  Arnold,  in 
1775,  "in  the  name  of  the  Great  Jehovah  and  the  Conti- 
nental Confjrcss."  Finally,  in  the  dead  of  winter,  in  1776, 
under  Gen.  Henry  Knox,  commander  of  artillery  during 
the  Revolution,  through  the  woods  on  long  trains  of  sledges 
drawn  by  oxen,  fifty  pieces  were  transported  to  Boston. 
There  it  did  good  service  in  the  siege  and  bombardment  of 
that  place,  until  tho  city  was  evacuated  by  tho  British, 
troops. 


! 


88 


LAKE   OEOEGE   AND 


if 


will  naturally  expect  to  see  it,  the  officers  to  feel 
it.  Neither  my  policy  nor  my  spirit  will  allow 
me  to  disgrace  the  character  I  am  placed  in. 
Tlie  province  of  New  Jersey  have  agreed  to 
give  Col.  Peter  Schu^'ler,  who  commands  hut 
five  hundred  men,  three  hundred  pounds  cur- 
rency for  his  table.  Is  not  a  secretary,  are  not 
aids-de-camp  necessary  about  me  ?  Is  there  to 
be  no  establishment  for  them  ?  They  must 
always  be  of  my  table." 

In  consequence  of  these  representations,  an 
allowance  of  fifty  pounds  per  month  was  made 
to  Gen.  Johnson  for  his  table,  and  four  hundred 
and  fifty-seven  pounds  for  the  service  of  the 
Indians. 

On  his  return  from  Albany,  Gen.  Johnson 
sent  messages,  with  belts  and  wampum,  through 
the  several  Indian  nations,  acquainting  them 
with  his  appointment,  and  calling  for  a  grand 
coimcil,  to  be  held  at  his  house  (Fort  Johnson), 
for  which  vast  preparations  had  been  made. 

The  conference  was  opened  with  due  solem- 
nity and  the  observance  of  all  the  ancient  forms, 
at  Mount  Johnson,  June  21.  The  nations  rep- 
resented were  the  Senecas,  Cayugas,  Oneidas, 
Tuscaroras,  Onondagas,  Tiedrigoes,  Schnadari- 
ghroes,  Delawares  and  Mohawks.  In  all  there 
were  eleven  hundred,  men,  wome'i  and  children, 


.      LAKE  CTIAMPLAIN. 

Ijeing  a  greater  number  than  were  ever  assem- 
bled before  at  any  public  meeting.''^ 

The  representative  white  men  present  were 
lion.  William  Johnson,  the  Kev.  Mr.  Ogilvie, 
the  Indian  missionary  (afterward  transferred  to 
Trinity  Church,  New  York),  Peter  "Wraxall, 
secretary  for  Indian  affairs;  four  interpreters; 
Mr.  Ferrall,  Capt.  Stoddert,  Capt.  Butler  and 
John  Henry  Lydius,  who  was  in  the  interest  of 
Gov.  Shirley,  and  appeared  by  accident  here,  as 
he  was  on  his  way  to  Oswego. 

The  speeches  had  previously  been  written  out 
and  translated  into  Indian  by  Daniel  Clans,  a 
German  gentleman  of  education,  who  had  lived 
for  some  time  with  the  upper  Mohawks,  assisted 
by  the  other  interpreters,  and  by  them  read  to 
two  eminent  sachems  of  the  Onondaga  and 
Oneida  tribes. 

At  the  appointed  hour  all  were  seated  and 
the  tribes  arranged  in  order  in  the  open  air. 
The  address  was  first  made  by  Johnson  in  Eng- 
lish. This  was  repeated  in  a  low  tone,  para- 
graph by  paragraph,  by  Clans,  the  interpreter, 
and  was  then  spoken  by  the  Onondaga  sachem, 


s 


*  The  General  was  distressed  where  to  get  food  for  such 
numbers,  as  they  "  destroyed  every  green  thing  upon  his 
estate,  and  all  his  meadows." 


8* 


I 


!    il 


. 

. 

I  ► 


90 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


Ka^liswiiglitiona  ("  Red  Head  "),  to  the  Avliolo 
body  of  Indians,  with  their  consent  and  appro- 
bation. 

"Brethren  of  the  confederate  nation  hero 
present:  With  this  string  of  wampum  I  wipo 
away  all  tears  from  your  eyes  and  cloar  your 
throats,  that  we  may  clieerfully  look  one  another 
in  the  face,  and  that  you  may,  at  this  meeting, 
attend  and  speak  without  constraint."  [Gave  a 
string  of  wampum.] 

lie  tlien  stated  tliat  he  had  hitely  attended  a 
great  meeting  of  tlie  Governors  of  the  States, 
with  Gen.  Braddock  (a  great  warrior),  where 
many  things  were  considered  and  agreed  upon, 
amono;  which  were  some  concernini!;  the  welfare 
and  interests  of  his  brethren,  the  Indians,  and 
regarded  more  particularly  the  insults  and 
encroachments  of  the  French.  lie  then  pro- 
ceeded :  - 

"  Brethren,  the  tree  which  you  have  so  often 
and  so  earnestly  desired  might  be  again  set  -up, 
is  now  raised  and  fixed  in  the  earth  by  so  pow- 
erful a  hand  that  its  roots  will  take  a  firm  and 
deep  foothig,  and  its  branches  be  a  comfortable 
and  extensive  shade  for  you  and  all  your  allies 
to  take  shelter  under  it.  I  do,  brethren,  at  the 
same  time,  remove  the  embers  which  remained 
at  Albanv,  and  rekindle  the  fire  of  council  and 


LAKE    CIIAMPLAIN. 


91 


fricndsliip  at  tliis  place ;  and  tliis  lire  1  sliall 
make  of  such  wood  as  will  give  the  clearest 
light  and  greatest  warintli,  and  I  hope  it  will 
prove  comfortable  and  useful  to  all  such  as 
will  come  and  light  their  pipes  at  it,  and  dazzle 
and  scorch  all  those  who  are  or  may  be  enemies 
to  it.  I  expect,  brethren,  tliat  you  will,  on  your 
parts,  increase  the  luster  and  benefits  of  tliis 
lire  by  keeping  it  dressed  u])and  tending  it  with 
such  diligent  zeal  as  may  render  it  not  only  a 
blessing  to  yourselves  but  to  your  posterity. 
Brethren,  with  this  string  of  wampum  I  make 
this  council  room  clean  and  free  from  every 
thing  offensive,  and  I  hope  that  you  will  take 
care  that  no  snake  may  creep  in  among  us,  or 
any  thing  which  may  obstruct  our  harmony." 
[Gave  a  string  of  wampum.] 

lie  also  informed  them  that  he  had  been 
appointed  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs,  and 
then  advised  them  to  cast  away  all  discord, 
jealousies  and  misunderstandings.  "  Consult 
together,"  he  said,  "  with  that  love  and  confi- 
dence which  becomes  brethren.  Let  your  gene- 
ral interest  be  the  desire  of  evpry  man  among 
you.  Unity  among  brethren  is  the  best  and 
surest  defense  against  every  enemy.  Brothers 
joined  together  are  like  a  great  bundle  of  sticks 
which  cannot  be  broke  whilst  they  are  bound 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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LAKE   GEORGE   AND 

together,  but  when  separated  from  each  other  a 
cliild  may  break  them."  [Here  a  bundle  of 
sticks,  bound  together,  were  delivered  by  Col. 
Johnson  to  the  sachem.  Red  Head,  who,  with  a 
very  lively  action  and  in  an  animated  manner, 
exemplified  the  metaphor,  and  gave  the  bundle 
of  sticks  to  a  sacliem  on  the  front  bench.  Upon 
this,  a  universal  shout  of  applause  was  given  by 
the  Indians.]  "  So  will  it  be  with  you.  If  you 
keep  in  union  you  will  be  strong,  but  if  divided, 
you  will  easily  be  destroyed.  To  lix  in  your 
hearts  and  to  render  this  advice,  which  I  have 
given  you,  effectual,  I  strengthen  it  with  this 
belt  of  wampum."     [Gave  a  belt.] 

The  General  then  informed  them  he  had  done 
for  this  time,  but  would  give  them  another 
speech  the  day  after  to-morrow,  when  affairs  of 
the  greatest  importance  would  be  opened  to  them. . 

On  the  morning  of  the  23d  a  council  of  the 
sachems  was  held  to  consider  of  the  replj'',  and 
Ilendrick  was  nominated  for  their  speaker,  but 
he  declined  the  honor  in  favor  of  "  Red  Head," 
which  was  at  last  agreed  to.  The  latter  had 
beer  much  under  French  influence,  but  had  been 
won  over  by  Col.  Johnson. 

In  the  afternoon,  the  assembly  being  convened 
as  before,  Ilendrick,  the  Mohawk  sachem,  first 
ros'3  up  and  said : 


JL 


LAKE  CIIAMPLAIN. 


93 


"Brother  Wariagliejaglie  [Col.  Jolmson's 
Indian  name] :  The  confederate  nations  are 
now  ready  to  make  their  reply  to  your  speech 
to  them  on  last  Saturday.  Are  you  prepared 
to  hear  what  we  have  to  say  ?"  Col.  Johnson 
told  them  that  he  was.     Ilendrick  then  s^.id  : 

" Brother  saclunis  and  you  warriors^  my  chil- 
dren: According  to  the  customs  of  our  fore- 
fathers on  these  occasions,  the  speaker  was 
chosen  from  the  Mohawks,  Senecas  or  Ononda- 
gf.s,  they  heing  the  elder  brothers  of  the  confed- 
eracy. Nor  was  any  preference  given  to  either 
of  the  three,  as  from  whichever  of  them  a 
speaker  was  chosen,  there  was  no  fear  but 
every  thing  would  be  regularly  conducted. 
You  warriors  and  young  men  take  notice  and 
remember  this  custom.  Brother  Kagswugh- 
tiona  [Red  Head],  of  Onondaga,  is  chosen  for 
our  speaker  at  this  meeting." 

Kaghswughtiona  then  rose  up  and  said  as  fol- 
lows : 

"Brother  "Wariaghejaghe :  We,  the  confed; 
erate  nations  now  assembled,  do,  by  this  string 
of  wampum,  return  you  our  brotherly  thanks 
for  the  ceremony  of  wiping  our  tears,  etc.  We 
do  the  same  to  you  for  every  cause  of  grief  yoi\ 
may  have  had,  and  we  also  clear  your  throat  and 
heart  that  you  may  speak  to  us  with  an  uncon- 


«■' 


Ti  ■■ 


M 


\ir 


94 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


!   I 


l! 


strained  freedom.  "We  condole  with  our  breth- 
ren, the  English,  for  all  the  blood  which  has 
been  Bpilled  by  the  French  and  all  other 
enemies."     [Gave  a  string  of  wampum.] 

lie  then  tlianked  him  for  the  relation  given 
of  the  journey  to  Virginia,  and  of  what  passed 
at  the  council  there,  and  then  said :  "  We  are 
also  rejoiced  to  see  the  tree  replanted,  and  t^  ^t 
in  so  strong  a  manner.  We  hope  it  will  be 
nourished  by  refreshing  streams,  that  it  may 
grow  up  as  high  as  the  heavens,  and  be  proof 
against  every  envious  wind ;  that  its  branches 
may  be  large  enough  and  numerous  enough  to 
afford  sufficient  shelter  for  us  and  all  our 
brethren  to  come  and  consult  under  it,  and  that 
our  cliildren's  children  may  bless  the  hand  that 
planted  it.  Brother,  Ave  have  been  long  in 
darkness,  and  we  are  extremely  obliged  to  the 
King  for  now  restoring  us  to  that  clear  and 
comfortable  light,  which  in  old  times  cheered 
our  fathers,  by  appointing  you  to  the  sole  njan- 
.agement  of  our  affairs,  whom  we  look  upon  as 
our  own  flesh  and  blood.  You,  last  year,  made 
up  the  fire  at  Onondaga,  of  such  wood  as  will 
never  burn  out.  As  to  the  fire  at  Albanv,  it 
was  so  low  and  bad  that  we  could  not  find  even 
a  spark  to  light  a  pipe  at  it.  But  here  we  have 
a  fire  that  will  never  be  extinguished.     This 


lUllL 


■lH 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIN, 


95 


fire,  as  well  as  that  at  Onondaga,  we  will  clier- 
isli,  and  all  other  fires  we  thus  kick  away  [here 
tlie  speaker  kicked  with  his  foot],  as  unnatural 
and  hateful  to  us."  [Gave  a  belt,  and  the 
Indians  gave  a  shout.]  "Brother,  we  thank 
you  for  renewing  our  ancient  forms.  You  have 
records  of  these  things,  and  we  thank  you  for 
putting  us  in  mind  of  them  by  cleaning  this 
council  place,  and  we  assure  you  we  will 
endeavor  to  keep  it  clean  and  free  from  every 
thing  hurtful.  AVe  also  thank  you  for  advising 
us  to  be  sincerely  and  affectionately  united 
together,  in  so  expressive  a  manner  as  you  did 
by  the  bundle  of  sticks.  It  hath  warmed  our 
hearts,  and  we  are  sensible  that  if  divided  we 
shall  be  like  this  single  stick,  easily  destroyed, 
and  we  are  determined  to  support  that  strict 
union  which  rendered  our  forefathers  formidable 
and  happy."     [Gave  a  belt  of  wampum.] 

Col.  Johnson  here  expressed  his  thanks  for 
their  affectionate  answer,  and  having  given 
notice  that  he  desired  their  attendance  the  next 
day,  and  that  two  cannon  would  be  fired  as  a 
signal,  the  assembly  broke  up. 

The  same  formalities  were  observed  the  fol- 
lowing day,  when  Col.  Johnson  spoke  as  follows : 

"  Brethren,  sachems  and  warriors  of  the  con- 
federate nations  :  With  this  string  of  wampum 


h 
¥ 


? 


Ill 


96 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


I  f 


I  pick  your  cars,  and  desire  your  serious  atten- 
tion. Behold,  bretlircn,  these  great  hooks  [four 
folio  volumes  of  the  reccrds  of  Indian  affairs, 
which  lay  upon  the  table].  They  are  records 
of  the  many  solemn  treaties  and  transactions 
which  have  passed  between  your  forefathers  and 
your  brethren,  the  English,  also  between  many 
of  you  here  present  and  us,  your  brethren,  now 
living.  They  testify  that  it  is  now  almost  a 
hundred  years  since  your  forefathers  and  ours 
became  Iciown  to  each  othor.  That  upon  our 
first  acquaintance  we  shook  hands,  and  finding 
we  should  be  useful  to  one  another,  entered  into 
a  covenant  of  brotherly  love  and  mutual  friend- 
ship ;  and  though  at  first  we  were  only  tied  by 
a  rope,  yet  lest  this  rope  should  grow  rotten  and 
break,  we  tied  ourselves  together  by  an  iron 
chain;  lest  time  and  accident  might  rust  and 
destroy  this  chain  of  iron,  we  afterward  made 
one  of  silver,  the  strength  and  brightness  of 
which  would  be  subject  to  no  decay.  The  ends 
of  this  silver  chain  are  fixed  in  the  immovable 
mountains,  in  so  firm  a  manner  that  the  hands 
of  no  mortal  enemv  mio-ht  be  able  to  move  it. 
By  keeping  it  bright  and  unbroken  we  have 
never  spilled  in  anger  one  another's  blood  to 
this  day.  From  the  beginning  to  this  time,  wo 
have    almost    every    year     strengthened    and 


LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 


97 


briglitened  tliis  covenant  chtain  in  the  most 
public  and  solemn  manner.  You  know  that 
we  became  as  one  bodv,  one  blood  and  one 
people,  the  same  king  our  common  father ;  that 
your  enemies  were  onrs,  and  whom  you  took 
into  your  alliance  and  allowed  to  take  into  their 
hands  this  covenant  chain  as  brethren,  they  have 
become  so  to  us.  Brethren,  you  also  know  that 
from  the  beginning  the  French  were  your 
declared  and  most  cruel  enemies," 

The  Colonel  th""  proceeded  to  detail  their 
endeavors  to  burn  the  settlements ;  their  sup- 
plying their  enemies  with  ammunition ;  their 
spoiling  the  hunting  grounds  by  building  stock- 
ades; their  pretended  peace  when  war  was  in 
their  hearts  ;  their  treachery  in  obtaining  leave 
to  found  trading  houses,  when  they  immediately 
built  forts ;  until  finally,  when  six  years  ago 
they  sent  a  body  of  armed  men  to  cut  off  the 
brethren  at  the  Ohio,  which  they  would  in  all 
probability  have  succeeded  in,  had  not  Johnson 
prevented  it  by  giving  the  Indians  timely  notice 
of  their  danger. 

"And  now,  my  brethren,"  he  continued,  "  I 
ask  you,  and  I  desire  every  man  present  to  ask 
himself,  the  question,  Who  have  been — who  are 
the  friends  and  brethren  of  the  five  confederate 
nations  and  their  allies?  the  English  or  the 
8 


I 


98 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


Frencli  ?  "Whatever  the  repoi''"-3  tlie  French  may 
artfully  si)read  among  you,  to  alarm  or  excite 
jealousies  in  you  against  the  English,  helieve 
me  they  are  false  and  raised  only  to  ruin  and 
enslave  you  and  establish  their  own  power.  I 
call  that  Almighty  Spirit  above  to  witness,  who 
made  us  all  and  knows  our  hearts,  which  created 
the  sun  which  shines  upon  us,  and  in  whose 
hands  are  the  thunder  and  the  lightning,  that 
we,  your  brethren,  have  no  ill  designs  whatever 
against  you.  If  you  will  continue  to  be  duiiful 
and  faithful  children  to  the  King,  and  enter  into 
no  engagements  with  the  French  against  your 
brethren  the  English — if  you  will  do  this  with 
sincerity,  I  am  ready  with  this  belt  to  renew 
and  make  more  stroma  and  bright  than  ever  the 
covenant  chain  of  love  and  friendship,  that  our 
friends  or  enemies  shall  be  yours,  and  that  your 
friends  or  enemies  shall  be  ours."  [Here  the 
union  belt  was  gi  ven.]  ^^Stand  hy  your  hrethren, 
the  English.  They  have,  indeed,  been  long 
asleep,  but  now  they  are  thoroughly  awake. 
They  are  slow  to  spill  blood,  but  when  they 
begin  they  rtre  like  an  angry  wolf,  and  the 
French  will,  fly  before  them  like  deer.  Now  is 
your  time  to  choose.  I  am  ordered  to  go 
myself,  with  great  guns  and  other  implements 
of  war,  to  drive  the  French  from  their  encroach- 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIN. 


09 


meiits  on  your  liunting  grounds  in  this  province. 
If  you  will  be  dutiful  to  the  King,  if  you  will 
be  faithful  to  your  brethren,  if  you  will  treat 
me  as  your  brother,  go  with  me.     My  war  ket 

TLE  IS  ON  THE  FIRE  ;    M\    CANOE   IS    READY    TO    PUT 

INTO  THE  water;  my  gun  is  loaded;  my  bword 

IS    BY    my    side,  and    MY    AX    IS    SHARPENED.       By 

this  large  belt,  therefore,  I  call  you  to  rise  up 
like  honest  and  brave  men,  and  join  your 
brethren  against  our  common  enemy ;  and  by  it 
I  confirm  the  assurances  I  have  given  you." 
[Here  he  gave  a  war  l)elt  to  Abraham,  a  brother 
of  Ilendrick,  a  sachem  of  the  upper  Mohawk 
castle.] 

The  next  day  Johnson  gave  them  the  speech 
sent  to  them  by  Gen.  Braddock. 

On  the  29tli  of  June  the  sachems  were  pre- 
pared with  their  reply,  which  was  delivered  by 
"Ked  Head,"  stating  that  they  accepted  his 
terms,  and  that  a  certain  number  of  the  braves 
would  go  from  each  castle ;  but  as  they  left  their 
families  unprepared  for  this  event,  they  were 
desirous  their  young  men  should  first  go  home 
and  settle  their  affairs  properly. 

Johnson  replied,  stating  his  satisfaction  at 
this  determination.  In  the  evenins;  the  war 
kettle  was  put  on,  and  the  war  dance  was 
performed.      Col.   Johnson   began  it,   and   the 


I* '  It' 


•  \ 


fWP 


100 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


Bpeakers,  sachems  and  warriors  joined  in  the 
solemn  ceremony. 

A  number  of  days  more  were  consumed  at 
this  celebrated  conference. 

On  the  first  of  July,  the  presents  being  set 
out  in  the  middle  of  the  yard,  Gen.  Johnson 
again  addressed  the  Indians  to  the  eifect,  that 
as  they  had  engaged  themselves  to  assist  their 
brethren  in  the  undertakings  now  on  foot 
against  their  enemies,  the  French,  he  hoped 
they  would  fulfill  their  engagements  like  honest 
men ;  that  some  of  their  young  men  bIiouUI  go 
down  and  join  Gen.  Braddock ;  that  Gov. 
Shirley  was  going  with  an  army  to  Oswego  and 
Niagara,  and  he  desired  they  should  give  him 
their  -^'mce  i.nd  assistance  in  his  undertakings ; 
that  he  would  shortly  march  with  the  forces 
under  his  command  to  Crown  Point,  and  he 
desired  they  would  have  some  warriors  from 
each  nation  to  attend  to  his  directions. 

The  reply  was  again  given  by  Red  Head, 
who  seemed  to  have  been  the  chief  orator  for 
this  occasion,  in  wliicli  he  promised  that  they 
would  persist  in  their  engagements ;  that  the 
Half  King  had  already  joined  Gen,  Braddock 
with  several  of  their  people ;  that  where  John- 
son went  they  were  ready  to  follow,  and  there 
would  be  people  to  join  and  aid  Gov.  Shirley. 


'r'< 


LAKE   CHAMPLAIN. 


101 


lie  then  took  in  liis  liands  a  large  belt  oi'  wam- 
pum, with  a  smaller  one  tied  to  it,  and  said: 

"  Brother :  As  every  tiling  has  gone  in  a 
friendly  way  between  iis  at  this  meeting,  and 
we  are  now  united  together  in  the  most  intimate 
manner,  let  us  not  have  the  devil  to  join  with 
us,  and  that  is  the  rum.  We  desire  you  will 
stop  up  the  bung,  and  let  rone  come  to  be  sold 
to  our  people.  Let  us  be  content  with  the  drink 
which  God  gives  us  from  the  heavens.  Rum  is 
not  necessary  for  our  lives,  but,  on  the  contrary, 
is  the  occasion  of  our  losing  them.  We  have 
never  any  difference  but  through  this  cursed 
liquor. 

"  Brother'  we  must  correct  you  a  little.  You 
desire  us  to  unite  and  to  live  together,  and  to 
draw  all  our  allies  near  us ;  but  we  shall  have 
no  land  left,  either  for  ourselves  or  for  them. 
"When  your  people  buy  a  small  piece  of  land 
from  us,  by  stealing  they  make  it  large.  Some- 
times it  is  bought  of  two  men  who  are  not  the 
proper  owners  of  it."     *     *     * 

Conochquiesie,  the  Oneida  sachem,  then  rose 
up  and  said : 

*'  Brother,  you  promised  us  that  you  would 

keep  this  fire-place  clean  from  all  filth,  and  that 

no  snake  should  come  into  this   council  room. 

That  man  sitting  there  (pointing  to  Col.  Lydius) 

9* 


i«  ,.  r 
,    1 


102 


LAKE    GKORGE   AND 


■ 

!1 


is  a  devil  and  has  fitolen  our  lands.  lie  takes 
Indians  sl^ly  l)y  the  blanket,  one  at  a  time, 
and  when  they  are  drunk,  puts  some  money 
into  their  bosoms,  and  persuades  them  to  sign 
deeds  for  our  lands  upon  the  Susquchaniui 
Mhich  we  will  not  ratilV,  nor  suffer  the  lands 
to  be  settled." 

In  his  rejoiner  Gen.  Johnson  said  :  "  That  if 
the  coming  of  Lydius  was  any  offense  to  the 
Indians,  he  was  sorry  for  it.  Lydius  came  to 
Mount  Johnson  of  his  own  accord,  and  without 
any  invitation  from  him.  If  Col.  Lydius  has 
done  as  you  represent,  which  I  am  afraid  is  in  a 
great  measure  true,  I  think  he  is  very  faulty — 
and  nobody  should  attempt  to  settle  lands  on 
such  unfair  purchases." 

The  General  having  further  wished  them  a 
safe  return  to  their  homes,  the  Conference — the 
most  celebrated  in  Indian  history — broke  up, 
having  been  in  session  fourteen  days. 


CIIAPTEll  VI. 


The  EXPEniTiov  to  lake   okoroe  — roMPosiTioN -or   the   heoi- 

MENT9  — FOnT  IIAUDY  —  FOIIT  SlILLEn— COUNCIL  OP  WAR  —  FOIIT 
LYMAN  —  AnniVAL  AT  LAKE  8T.  HACHAMENT  —  NAME  CIIANOED  TO 
LAKE  OEOnriE  — DEISKAU  — nATTI.E  OF  LAKE  OEOIUiE  —  BLOODY 
rOND  —  TIIE  CAPTCKE  OF  CROWN  POINT  P08T1H)NED. 

^Li  VNY  wns  selected  as  the  ])lacc  of 
reiide'  vous  for  the  troops  destined  for 
the  Crown  Point  expedition,  who 
'^^V  began  to  assemble  about  the  last  of 
June.  It  was  composed  of  the  following  regi- 
ments : 

First  Connecticut  —  Major-General  Phineas 
Lyman,  Lieut. -Col.  John  Pitkin,  Major  Robert 
Denniston. 

Second  Connecticut — Col.  Eleazur  Goodrich, 
Lieut.-Col.  Natlian  Whiting,  Major  Eleazur 
Fitch. 

First  Massachusetts  —  Col.  Timothy  Huggles, 
Lieut.-Col.  Thos.  Gilbert,  Major  Jonathan 
White. 

Second  3fassachusetts — Col.  Moses  Titcomb, 
Lieut.-Col.  Jonathan  Bagley,  Major  Ebin 
Nichols. 


hi 


^!.:^i~,inf^mmmmm 


I 


104 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


Third  Massachcsetts — Col.  Epliriam  "Wil- 
liams, Lieut.-Col.  Setli  Pomeroy,  Major  Xoah 
Ashley. 

I^h'st  lllwde  Island  —  Col.  Wm.  Cockroft, 
Lieut.-Col.  Edward  Cole,  Major  Robert  House. 

To  these  were  added,  on  their  arrival  at  Fort 
Edward,  Col.  Joehua  Blanchard's  regiment  of 
New  Hampshire. 

In  addition  to  the  above  regiments  were  the 
following  companies : 

Capt.  Phil  John  Schuyler,  Albany,  87  men. 

Capt.  Edmond  Mathews,  Albany,  97  men. 

Capt,  Isaac  Corser,  Westchester,  95  men. 

Capt.  Peter  Yandenburgh,  Dutchess,  78  men. 

Capt.  "Wni.  McGinness,  Schenectady,  89  men. 

Capt.  Samuel  Dimock,  Seabrook,  Ct.,97men. 

Capt.  John  Slap,  Durham,  Ct.,  97  men. 

Capt.  Street  Hall,  Wallingford,  Ct.,  97  men. 

These  companies  were  organized  into  the  New 
York  regiment,  which  was  placed  under  the 
command  of  Major  Fitch,  of  Connecticut. 

About  the  first  of  August  Gen.  Lyman  moved 
up  the  river  with  the  advance,  building  store- 
houses and  opening  th  3  road.  At  Saraghtoga  he 
constructed  a  blockhouse,  to  which  he  gave  the 
name  of  Fort  Hardy,  in  honor  of  the  New  Gov- 
ernor of  New  York.  This  fort  was  located  on 
the  north  side  of  Fish  creek,  on  the  west  side 


LAKE   CHAMPLAIN. 


105 


of  the  river.  It  was  protected  on  two  sides,  by 
tlie  creek  and  river,  and  on  the  remaining  sides 
by  a  deep  ditch,  which  was  crossed  by  a  draw- 
bridge. Store-houses  were  also  erected  at  the 
second  carrying  place,  to  which  the  name  of 
Fort  Miller  was  given.  They  were  on  the  west 
side  of  the  stream,  and  were  built  upon  the  flat 
at  the  head  of  the  falls.  This  flat  is  protected 
on  three  sidv33,  by  the  river,  which  curves  around 
it  in  a  horseshoe  form,  and  one-third  of  the 
remaining  side  by  a  narrow  bay.  To  complete 
these  natural  defenses  a  parapet  of  timber  and 
earth,  with  a  fence  in  front  of  it,  was  extended 
across  the  neck  of  land  from  the  head  of  the  bay 
to  the  river  bank. 

The  road  was  continued  up  the  west  side  of 
the  river  to  the  great  currying  place  and  there 
on  the  site  of  Fort  Nicholson,  and  subsequently 
of  the  fortified  house  of  Lydius,*  a  largo  and 


*  John  Henry  Lydius  was  a  man  of  extensive  acquire- 
ments and  prominence.  He  was  a  son  of  John  Lydius,  the 
second  Dutch  Reformed  minister  of  Albany,  who  succeeded 
Godfrey  Dellius  in  his  ministrations  of  the  Holland  church, 
and  from  whom  Lydius  street  (now  Madison  avenue)  was 
named.    He  died  March  1,  1709, 

John  Henry,  the  merchant  and  Indian  trader,  was  bom 
1693.  From  1725  to  1730  he  resided  at  Montreal,  and  mar- 
ried Genevieve  Masse,  a  half  breed.  While  here  he  carried 
on  a  trade  and  clandestine  correspondence  with  Boston. 


■  ' 


106 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


expensive  fort  wns  laid  out,  •which  was  called 
Fort  Lyman.  It  was  bnilt  nnder  the  direction 
of  Capt.  Eyre,  who  kept  three  hundred  men 
constantly  at  work  upon  them  until  the  army 
marched  to  Lake  St.  Sacrament.  It  was  fifteen 
hundred  and  sixty  feet  in  circumference  and  of 
an  irregular  quadrangular  form.  Two  of  its 
sides  were  protected  hy  Fort  Edward  Creek  and 
the  river.  Its  ramparts  were  sixteen  feet  high 
and  twenty-two  feet  thick,  which  were  guarded 

It  is  not  true,  as  has  been  stated,  that  he  abjured  his 
reljjjion.  On  tlio  contrary,  he  was  tried  for  heresy  and  tam- 
pering with  the  Indians.  It  was  shown  that  he  received 
the  Indians  at  ^.is  house,  painted  them,  telling  them  that 
thus  they  should  go  to  war.  IIi;  aLso  represented  that  tho 
Catholic  mysteries  which  the  missionaries  were  announcing 
to  them,  were  pure  impositions,  which  they  ought  not  to 
believe.  He  had  objected  to  have  his  child  baptized,  and 
secretly  had  exhorted  an  Englishman,  at  the  point  of  death, 
to  persist  in  his  heretical  opinions,  had  assisted  at  his  inter- 
ment, and  performed  the  ceremonies  according  to  the  man- 
ner of  English  ministers.  In  consequence  of  this  he  was 
tried  by  a  court-martial,  and  was  condemned  to  pay  a  fine  of 
three  thousand  livres  and  be  banished  the  colony  forever. 

In  1744,  on  tlu^  20th  of  February,  Beaubassin  visited 
Lydius  at  his  fortified  house,  at  the  great  carrying  place 
(Fort  Edward),  and  slept  there.  Lydius  then  stated  to  him 
chat  in  the  spring  two  Englishmen  intended  to  build  a  grist 
and  a  saw  mill  at  the  Little  Fall  (Whitehall),  for  the  pur- 
pose of  locating  a  company  of  Scotchmen  (Capt.  Laughlin'8 
emigrants).  ^ 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIN. 


107 


by  six  cannon.  Lieut. -Colonel  Bagley  built  a 
bridge  across  the  creek,  wliicli  was  known  as 
Baglej's  bridge.  The  fort  contained  magazine, 
barracks,  store-house  and  hospital,  in  addition 
to  whicii  large  store-houses  and  barracks  were 
reared  on  the  island  opposite,  in  the  river.  It 
took  several  years  to  complete  the  fort,  which, 
when  iinished,  was  named  Fort  Edward,  in 
honor  of  the  Duke  of  York,  brother  of  George 
the  Third. 


t- 


■  r 


In  November,  1745,  Lydius'  house  was  plundered  and 
burned  by  the  Indians,  under  M.  Marin,  on  their  way  to  the 
capture  of  Sarajjhtoga.  His  son  was  taken  prisoner.  The 
same  winter  Lydius  wont  to  Boston  to  represent  to  Gov. 
Shirley  the  necessity  of  taking  Fort  St.  Frederick. 

In  1750  he  was  a  citizen  of  Albany,  and  engaged  in  per- 
fecting the  exchange  of  prisoners  between  the  two  nations. 
He  excited  tlic  jealousy  of  Sir  Wm.  Johnson,  who  at  ono 
time  considered  him  a  dangerous  man,  and  charged  that  ho 
had  sent  a  packet  of  letters  to  Canada,  with  an  account  of 
a  skirmish  which  the  Indians  had  had  with  the  Albanians. 
Still  he  was  recommended  by  Johnson,  on  his  resignation 
ns  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs,  in  1757,  as  the  most 
proper  person  to  be  appointed  in  his  place.  Lydius  stood 
high  in  the  confidence  of  Gov,  Shirley,  who  was  in  the 
habit  of  intrusting  to  him  his  negotiations  with  the  Indians. 
He  effected  the  purchase  wlu^reby  Connecticut  became  pos- 
sessed of  the  valley  of  the  Wyoming.  He  owned  extensive 
tracts  in,  and  settled  the  town  of  Durham,  county  of  Char- 
lotte. He  removed  to  England,  1776,  and  died  near  Ken- 
sington, 1791,  aged  ninety-eight  years.  JB. 


I 

i 

I 


108 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


fl 


i 


On  ':lie  Stli  of  August  Gon.  Johnson  left 
Albany  with  the  stores  and  arriller;'.  He  was 
also  accompanied  by  Ilendricl  ith  fifty  Mo- 
hawk warriorcJ.  lie  reached  the  great  carrying 
place  on  the  14tli,  and  was  the:  'oined  by  two 
hundred  more  braves.  Here  information  was 
received  that  the  French  were  conceuirating  a 
force  of  at  least  G,000  men  at  Fort  St.  Frede- 
rick, that  they  intended  also  to  fortify  at  Ticon- 
deroga,  and  if  the  army  marched  by  the  way 
of  Wood  creek,  they  wduld  attack  from  South 
Bay.  These  reports  from  the  Indians  were  con- 
firmed by  Lieuts.  Adams,  Butler  and  Stevens, 
who  each  commanded  an  Indian  company. 

A  scouting  party  of  forty  soldiers  and  three 
Indians,  having  been  sent  out  to  reconnoiter, 
Johnson  laid  before  a  council  of  war  the  above 
information,  and,  at  the  same  time,  desired  their 
opinion  in  regard  to  re-enforcements,  also  which 
way  toward  Crown  Point  tlie  road  should  be 
opened,  and  the  number  of  men  necessary  for 
that  work. 

The  council  unanimously  decided  that  there 
was  great  urgency  for  re-enforcements,  that  the 
road  to  Lake  St.  Sacrament  was  the  most  elij2:ible 
route,  and  that  two  thousand  men  and  half  the 
artillery  aTid  military  stores,  were  the  number 
that  would  be  safe  and  sufficient  to  carry  on 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIN. 


109 


th.at  work  and  build  a  place  of  arms  and  maga- 
zines. The  whole  number  of  troops  lit  for  duty 
was  2,932. 

The  same  day,  August  24,  Gen.  Johnson 
inclosed  to  Gov.  Delancey  the  minutes  of  the 
council  of  war,  and  stated  that  he  had  sent  an 
express  to  Col.  Blanchard  to  join  him  with  all 
possible  dispatch ;  that  he  had  many  natural 
obstacles  to  expect;  that  the  French  would 
probably  outnumber  him,  but  he  would  take 
post  and  fortify  himself  in  some  advantageous 
place  this  side  of  Crown  Point,  probably  at 
Ticonderoga ;  that  they  were  greatly  superior 
in  Indians,  and,  all  circumstances  considered, 
very  strong  and  speedy  re-enforcements  were 
necessary  to  the  acquisition  of  Crown  Point. 

The  country,  however,  was  already  alive  to 
the  emergency.  The  New  York  Assembly  had 
already  resolved  to  raise  400,  Connecticut  500, 
and  Massachusetts  2,000,  additional  troops  for 
this  expedition. 

Aug.  25.  Johnson  moved  out  with  the  first 
division  of  fifteen  hundred  men,  besides  the 
Indians.  The  troops  reached  the  lake  on  the 
evening  of  the  28th,  and  immediately  went  into 
camp  on  its  border,*  their  flanks  being  protected 


11 

I 

» 

I* 


s  I 


*  West  of  Fort  George. 
10 


110 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


I 


11 


by  a  tliickly  wooded  swamp,  "  wlioro,"  he  writes, 
"no  liouse  was  ever  before  built,  nor  a  rod  of 
land  cleared  ;  and  the  lake  which  the  French  call 
St.  Sacrament^  I  have  given  the  name  of  Lake 
GEORGEjf  not  only  in  honor  of  His  Majesty, 
but  to  assert  his  undoubted  dominion  here." 

The  plan  of  the  General  Avas,  after  building 
the  fort,  to  cause  the  bateaux,  about  six  liun- 
dred  in  number,  to  be  brought  up  from  Fort 
Lyman,  and  proceeding  to  Ticonderoga,  there 
await  re-enforcements,  and  then  proceed  to  the 
attack  on  Crown  Point. 

Sept.  3d.  Gen.  Lyman  arrived,  bringing  up 
with  him  the  rest  of  the  troops  and  the  heavy 
artillery  He  left  Col.  Blanchard  in  com- 
mand of  the  fort,  with  the  New  Hampshire 
Rangers  and  five  companies  of  the  New  York 
regiment. 

*  Literally  "  Lake  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament,"  which 
name  it  obtained  in  1646,  from  Father  Joques,  the  Jesuit, 
who,  on  his  way  to  the  Iroquois  country,  passed  through  it 
on  the  festival  of  Corpus  Christi. 

f  The  ancient  Iroquois  name  of  Lake  George  is  Andia-ti- 
roc-te — "  There  the  lake  shuts  itself."  lis  arriverant,  la 
Veille  du  S.  Sacrament  au  bout*  du  lac  qui  est  joint  au 
grand  lac  de  Champlain.  Les  Iroquois  le  nomment  Andia- 
TIROCTE  comme  que  disact  la  on  le  lac  se  feme.  La  Pore  le 
nomma  le  lac  du  S.  Sacrament. 

♦  Bout  —  The  extremity  as  opposed  to  the  other  end.  •     '•   . 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIN. 


Ill 


111  the  month  of  March,  1755,  a  commi^^sion 
was  issued  by  Louis  XI  to  the  Brron  de  Dies- 
kau,*  appointing  him  to  the  command  of  tlie 
French  troops  in  Canada,  and  giving  him  six 
battalions  of  3,000  regulars,  in  addition  to  tlie 
troops  already  there.  M.  de  Vaudreuil,  a  Cana- 
dian by  birth,  and  lately  Governor  of  Louisi- 
ana, was  appointed  Governor  of  Canada,  to 
succeed  Duquesne,  and  accompanied  Dieskau. 

May  3d.  They  embarked  at  Brest  in  a  fleet 
of  fourteen  ships  and  two  frigates,  and  reached 
Quebec  on  the  2Cth  of  June,  with  the  loss  of 
two  vessels,  which  were  captured  by  tlie  Englisli 
cruisers  off  Newfoundland. 

On  the  ICth  of  August  Dieskau  moved  up  to 
Fort  St.  Frederick.  His  army  for  this  purpose 
consisted  of  the  regiments  of  La  Reine  and 
Languedock,  amounting  to  720  regulars,  1,500 
Canadians  and  760  Indians,  in  all  3,000  men. 

Sept.  3d.  The  Baron  moved  down  to  Carillon 
(Ticonderoga),  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  fort 
and  occupying  that  important  pass.  On  infor- 
mation received  here  from  a  prisoner,  it  was 
resolved  "  to  turn  the  defensive  into  the  offen- 
sive," and  attack  and  overwhelm  the  camp  at 
Fort  Lyman. 

*  A  lieutenant-colonel  of  cavalry  under  the  celebrated 
Marshal  Saxe. 


5 

t 


ft! 


!!l, 


112 


LAKE   OEOROE   AND 


I 


.^! 


In  consequence  of  this,  there  were  ordered 
out  a  detachment  of  216  rogulare,  600  Cana- 
dians and  all  the  Indians,  making  a  force  of 
1,500  men.  By  advice  of  the  Indians,  they 
resolved  to  go  up  Lake  Champlain  rather  than 
by  Lake  St.  Sacrament.  The  first  night  they 
encamped  at  the  Two  Rocks,  and  September  5th 
moyed  to  ♦he  head  of  South  Bay. 

6th.  They  left  the  bateaux  under  a  guard  o£ 
one  hundred  and  twenty  men,  and  marched 
three  leagues  toward  Fort  Lyman,  the  detach- 
ment carrying  eight  days'  provisions  on  their 
backs. 

7th.  Marched  six  leagues  through  the  woods, 
and  encamped  within  a  league  of  the  fort, 
intending  to  attack  and  carry  the  place  the  next 
morning,  by  a  "  coup  de  mainy  Thereupon  the 
commander  called  together  the  Indian  chiefs,  to 
explain  to  them  his  plan,  and  to  assign  to  them 
their  positions.  After  a  delay  of  an  hour  or 
two,  the  chiefs  returned  to  the  Marshal,  and 
stated  that  the  Iroquois  of  the  Sault^  to  the 
number  of  300,  had  refused  to  join  in  the 
attack,  and  as  they  were  the  oldest,  the  rest 
of  the  Indians  would  be  obliged  to  follow 
their  example.  They  had  resolved  "  not  to  act 
against^  the  English  on  their  own  territory,  hut 
if  the   General  would  lead  them  against  the 


LAi^E   CIIAMPLAIN. 


113 


English  camp  at  St.  Srtcrament^  a)hicJi  mas 
undouhiedly  on  French  soil^''  they  \\  ould  follow 
him  there.*  . . 

Ill  consequence  of  this  determination,  the 
General  changed  his  plans,  and  the  next  morn- 
ing at  day-break  moved  toward  Lake  St.  Sacra- 
ment, on  the  road  which  Johnson  had  built. 
The  trooi:)s  marched  in  three  columns,  the  Cana- 
dians on  the  right,  Indians  on  the  left,  and  the 
regulars  in  the  center.  Aftei  a  march  of  some 
hourti  a  prisoner  was  brought  in,  who  stated  that 
Gen.  Johnson  had  been  informed  of  the  march 
against  Fort  Lyman,  and  had  detached  1,000 
men  from  his  camp  to  re-enforce  that  place. 
Upon  this  informa;tion,  Dieskau  ordered  the 
Indians  and  Canadians  to  move  about  three 
hundred  paces  in  front,  there  to  lie  flat  on  the 
ground,  so  as  not  to  be  discovered,  and  not  to 
make  the  slightest  noise  or  discha'ge  a  gun 
until  the  French  column  had  first  fired,  then  to 
rise  suddenly  so  as  to  take  the  English  on  both 
flanks.     The  center  column  having  come  to  a 


*  Rev.  Courtlandt  Van  Rensselaer,  in  his  historical  dis- 
course on  the  battle  of  Lake  George,  states  that  the  reason 
why  the  Indians  refused  to  go  on  with  the  attack,  was  on 
account  of  their  dread  of  cannon.  But  the  above  is  from 
the  oflScial  return. 
10* 


w 


114 


LAKE    GEORGE   AND 


I 


i  V 


halt,  tlic  pl.an  of  attack  took  the  form  of  a  cul 
de  sac  /  and,  had  the  orders  been  obeyed,  tliere 


French. 


is  not  a  doubt  but  the  wliole  of  the  English 
detachment  would  have  been  captured.  Unfor- 
tunately, some  of  the  Iroquois,  more  curious 
than  the  others,  rose  up,  and,  perceiving  that 
the  English  were  accompanied  by  a  party  of 
Mohav.'ks,  notified  the  rest,  ■whereupon  the  Iro- 
quois tired  their  guns  in  the  air,  as  a  warning 
that  there  was  an  ambuscade. 

Turning  to  the  movements  of  the  provincials, 
we  find  that  Sunday  evening,  September  7th,  the 
Eno;lish  scouts  discovered  the  roads  which  the 
French  had  made  about  South  Bay,  and  gave  in- 
formation of  their  movements.  One  Adams,  a 
wagoner,  volunteered  to  ride  express  with  John- 
son's orders  to  Col.  Blanchard,  directing  him  to 
withdraw  all  his  troops  into  the  walls.  The  wag- 
oner was  captured  by  the  French  Indians,  and 
liis  dispatches  carried  to  their  commander. 


'I 


N 


LAKE   CHAMPLAIN. 


115 


Oil  the  morning  of  the  8th  a  council  of  war 
was  called,  in  consequence  of  which  one  thou- 
sand men*  were  detached,  under  tlie  command 
of  Col.  Williams  and  Lieut.-Col.  AVhiting,  with 
two  hundred  Indians,  led  by  Ilcndrick  and 
Capts.  Farrcll,  Stoddard  and  McKinnis.  They 
marched  between  eight  and  nine  o'clock. 

Meanwhile  Johnson  ordered  a  rude  breast- 
work to  be  constructed  of  felled  trees  and  the 
wagons  and  bateaux.  lie  also  hauled  the  can- 
non around  from  the  lake,  and  2)laced  them  in 
position  pointed  toward  the  river  road.f  The 
command  of  Col,  Williams  marched  in  two  divis- 
ions, the  first  led  by  himself,  the  second  under 
Lieut.-Col.  AVhiting.  They  proceeded  to  Rocky 
Brook,  about  two  miles,  where  Williams  halted 
until  the  other  division  came   up,   when   the 

*  It  was  at  this  council,  first  proposed  to  send  five  hun- 
dred men.  Hendrick,  when  he  was  asked  his  opinion  in  re- 
gard to  the  number  to  be  sent  out,  is  said  to  have  j)resented 
an  arrow  to  Gen.  Johnson,  which  ho  desired  him  to  break 
which  was  of  course  easily  done.  Then  he  offered  a  bundle 
of  arrows,  with  a  similar  request,  which  th  i  general  was 
unable  to  do.  "  If,"  says  Hendrick  "you  p.  ^pose  to  have 
them  slaughtered  they  are  too  many,  if  to  succeed,  they  are 
too  few. 

f  This  and  the  action  which  followed  was  on  the  site  of 
Fort  George,  and  between  that  and  the  site  of  Fort  Wm. 
Henry. 


116 


LAKE  GEORGE  AND 


entire  column  moved  on,  preceded  by  the  Indi- 
ans, led  by  Ilendrick,  who  was  riding  on  one  of 
Geii  Johnson's  horses.  Unsuspicious  of  the 
proximity  of  the  enemy,  they  press  forward  and 
enter  the  fatal  defile,  the  Canauians  and  Indians 
being  concealed  on  either  side  by  thickets,  trees 
and  rocks.  Suddenly  they  were  stopped  by  the 
discharge  of  musketry  and  the  terrific  war- 
whoop.  The  tire  was  immediately  returned, 
and  Williams  ordered  his  men  to  spread  out 
upon  the  hill  on  their  right.  Here,  however, 
they  were  met  by  the  French  Indians,  who  all, 
except  the  Iroquois,  poured  a  volley  into  them. 
Col.  Williams  was,  early  in  the  action,  shot 
through  the  head.*  Ilendrick  had  his  horse 
shot  under  him.  Being  unwieldy,  he  was  not 
able  to  disengage  himself,  and  was  stabbed  with 
a  bayonet. 

*  Col.  Epliraim  Williams  was  a  prominent  actor  in  the 
scenes  we  commemorate.  In  the  former  war  of  1744,  ho 
commanded  the  line  of  forts  on  the  western  side  of  the  Con- 
necticut river,  and  resided  principally  at  Fort  Massachusetts, 
which  was  about  three  miles  east  of  what  is  now  Williams- 
-town.  In  passing  through  Albany,  on  his  way  to  the  seat  of 
war,  he  made  his  will  on  the  22d  of  J  uly .  After  giving  certain 
legacies  to  his  relatives,  he  bequeathed  the  remainder  of  his 
property  to  the  founding  of  a  free  school  on  tWB  western 
frontiers  of  Massachusetts,  at  a  place  which  received  the 
name  of  Williamstown  in  honor  of  the  donor.    In  1790  the 


V'-  /tu  fin  Its, 


m 


l4ij 


/ '/  If  S  T   ExCrA  GE  Mt'X  T 

/  //f/'  liooff  .  .»*  Frcurli  i^  /tiffian.s . 

•t  Ilt'iulrirh   on  Hoi^ehfck  .  4  hwincials, 


Sv 


\f<iiiiii  //o/fintriw 


I  lie  HI  til. 
Hpiisi\J2a^ 

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Fallfi/.       '-}] 

Tapptin  Shtt-1. 


UlhonVc«U'nrwiii»&Co  Albany  N.Y. 


I      ^ 


i       i 


W»>''\ 


•"'"'  IIMMIIIW 


LAKE  CHAMPLAm. 


117 


I 


I 

I 


■I 


Dieskau  having  ordered  a  general  attack,  the 
English  were  doubled  up  like  a  pack  of  cards, 
and  hastily  retreated.  As  the  firing  approached 
nearer  the  camp,  Jolmson  beat  to  arms,  and 
detached  Lieut.-Col.  Cole,  with  300  men,  to 
cover  the  retreat.  About  ten  o'clock  the  troops 
viame  in  in  bodies.  The  breastwork  was  manned 
by  the  whole  army,  and  a  field-piece  advan- 
tageously posted  on  the  left  flank  on  the  rocky 
eminence.  The  following  is  Gen.  Johnson's 
own  description  of  the  battle : 

"About  half  after  eleven  the  enemy  appeared 
in  sight,  and  marched  along  the  road  in  very 
regular  order,  directly  upon  our  center.  They 
made  a  small  halt  about  150  yards  from  our 
breastwork,  when  the  regular  troops  (whom  we 
judged  to  be  such  by  their  bright  and  fixed 
bayonets)  made  the  grand  and  center  attack. 

sum  had  accumulated  to  nearly  $20,000,  $0,000  of  which  was 
used,  with  a  similar  amount  from  other  sources,  in  erecting 
a  large  building  for  the  academy.  In  1793  the  academy 
was  chartered  by  tL  State  as  a  college,  and  was  called 
Williams'  College.  It  was  a  great  thought  in  the  mind  of 
Williams  to  establish  an  institution  of  learning.  His  fame 
rests  upon  a  more  enduring  rock  than  the  reconnoitering 
stone  of  a  military  officer,  and  his  monument  is  seen,  not 
merely  by  glances  in  a  mountain  ravine,  but  on  the  high- 
way of  nations,  and  in  the  heathen  as  well  as  the  civilized 
world.     Van  Rensselaer. 


I  i ; 


118 


LAKE   GEOKGE   AND 


The  Canadians  and  Indians  sqnatted  and  dis- 
persed upon  our  flanks.  The  enem^-'s  fire  we 
received  first  from  tlie  regulars,  in  platoons,  but 
it  did  no  great  execution,  being  at  too  great  a 
distance,  and  our  men  defended  by  the  breast- 
work. Our  artillery  then  began  to  play  upon 
them,  and  was  served  under  the  direction  of 
Capt.  Eyre  during  the  whole  engagement,  in  a 
manner  very  creditable  to  him  and  those  con- 
cerned in  its  management.  The  en2:a":ement 
now  became  general.  The  regulars  kept  their 
ground  and  order  for  some  time  with  great  reso- 
lution, but  the  warm  and  constant  fire  from  our 
artillery  and  troops  put  them  into  disorder. 
Their  fire  became  more  scattered  and  unequal, 
and  on  our  left  became  very  faint.  They  moved 
then  to  the  right  of  our  encampment,  and 
attacked  Col.  Kuggles',  Col.  AVilliams'  and  Col. 
Titcomb's  regiments,  where  they  maintained  a 
warm  fire  for  near  an  hour.  The  three  regi- 
ments on  the  viglit  supported  the  attack  very 
resolutely,  and  kept  up  a  strong  and  constant 
fire  upon  the  enemy.  About  four  o'clock  our 
men  and  Indians  jumped  over  the  breastwork, 
pursued  the  enemy,  slaughtered  numbers,  and 
took  several  prisoners,  among  whom  was  Gen. 
Dieskau,  who  was  brought  to  my  tent  about  six 
o'clock,  just  as  I  was  having  a  wound  dressed. 


LxiKE   CIIAMPLAIN. 


119 


I 


It 
a 


The  engagement  and  pursuit  ended  about  seven 
o'clock." 

The    capture    of    Baron    Dieskau     is     thus 
described  by  himself: 

"  In  movinjT  toward  the  left  so  as  to  make  signs  to  the 
Indians  to  advance,  I  approached  nnconsciously  so  close  to 
the  intrenchment  that  I  received,  in  a  moment,  three  balls 
in  my  legs,  and  one  across  my  right  knee,  which  precipitated 
me  near  a  tree,  behind  which  I  crawled  with  the  assistance 
of  Chevalier  de  Montreuill,  wlio  had  followed  me.  As  this 
gentleman  was  the  next  to  me  in  rank,  and  was  unwilling 
to  leave  me,  I  ordered  him,  in  the  King's  name,  to  go  and. 
assume  the  command,  and,  should  he  see  its  necessity,  to 
make  the  best  retreat  he  could,  but  to  send  me  some  men  to 
remove  me.  Shortly  afterward  came  two  Canadians  from 
him,  one  of  whom  was  killed  outright  and  fell  on  my  legs, 
to  my  great  embarrassment ;  and  as  the  other  could  not 
remove  me  by  himself,  I  told  him  to  bring  me  some  more 
men  ;  but  soon  after  I  heard  the  retreat  beaten,  without  see- 
ing any  thing,  being  seated  on  g;'ound  somewhat  low,  with 
my  back  leaning  against  a  tree.  Having  remained  in  that 
situation  about  half  an  hour,  I  saAv  one  of  the  enemy's  sol- 
diers within  ten  or  twelve  paces  of  me,  taking  aim  at  me, 
behind  a  tree.  I  made  signs  to  him  with  my  hand  not  to 
fire,  but  he  did  not  fail  to  do  so.  The  shot  traversed  both 
my  hips.  Leaping  on  me  at  the  same  time,  he  said  (in  very 
good  French),  *  Surrender !'  I  said  to  him,  '  You  rascal, 
why  did  you  fire  at  me?  You  see  a  man  lying  on  the 
ground  bathed  in  his  blood,  and  you  fire,  eh  ?'  lie  answered, . 
'  How  did  I  know  but  you  had  a  jnsto' ''  I  prefer  to  kill 
the  devil  than  that  the  devil  kill  me.'  '  l'"ou  are  a  French- 
man, then  ?'  I  asked.  '  Yes,'  he  replied,  '  'tis  more  than 
ten  years  since  I  left  Canada.'  Whereupon  divers  others 
fell  on  me,  and  stripped  me.     I  told  them  to  carry  me  to 


'; 


i\ 


'  i 


':  m 
il 
il 


\  1 
t 


w 


120 


LAKE   GEOKGE   AND 


m\ 


their  general,  which  they  did.  On  learning  who  I  was,  he 
had  me  laid  on  his  bed,  and  sent  for  surgeons  to  dress  my 
wounds,  and,  though  wounded  himself,  he  refused  all  attend- 
ance until  mine  were  dressed. 

"  Several  Indians  entered  his  tent  soon  after,  who  regarded 
me  with  a  furious  look,  and  spoke  to  him  a  long  time,  and 
with  much  vehemence.  When  they  had  departed,  I 
observed,  '  Those  fellows  have  been  regarding  me  with  a 
look  not  indicative  of  much  compassion.'  'Any  thing  else 
but  that,'  he  answered,  '  for  they  wished  to  oblige  me  to 
deliver  you  into  their  hands,  in  order  to  burn  you,  in  revenge 
for  the  death  of  their  comrades  and  of  the  three  chiefs  who 
have  been  slain  in  the  battle,  and  threaten  to  abandon  me 
if  I  do  not  give  you  up.  Feel  no  uneasiness ;  you  are  safe 
with  me.' 

"  The  same  Indians  returned,  some  time  after,  to  the  tent. 
The  conversation  appeared  to  me  animated  at  first,  and 
became  more  moderate  at  the  close,  when,  smiling,  they  took 
my  hand  in  token  of  friendship,  and  retired.  Gen.  Johnson 
afterward  told  me  that  he  had  made  my  peace  with  them,  and 
that  they  had  abandoned  all  their  pretensions.  I  observed, 
that  as  he  was  wounded  himself,  I  was  afraid  I  incommoded 
him,  and  requested  him  to  have  me  removed  elsewhere.  '  I 
dare  not,'  he  answered,  '  for  were  I  to  do  so,  the  Indians 
would  massacre  you.  They  must  have  time  to  sleep.'  To- 
ward eleven  o'clock  at  night,  I  was  removed,  under  an 
escort  of  a  captain  and  fifty  men,  to  the  tent  of  a  colonel, 
where  I  passed  the  night.  The  guard  had  orders  not  to 
suffer  any  Indians  to  approach  ^me.  Nevertheless,  one  of 
them  came  next  morning  near  the  tent,  and  the  sentinel, 
seeing  that  he  was  not  armed,  allowed  him  to  enter,  but  the 
moment  he  was  in,  he  drew  a  naked  sword  from  under  a 
sort  of  cloak  he  wore,  and  approached  to  stab  me,  where- 
upon the  colonel,  in  whose  tent  I  was,  threw  himself 
between  us,  disarmed  the  Indian,  and  put  him  out. 


t»r 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIN. 


121 


no 
Id. 


"f  remained  nine  days  in  the  English  camp,  and  Gen. 
Johnson,  having  caused  a  litter  to  be  made,  had  me 
removed  to  his  house  at  Orange,*  and  at  the  end  of  four 
weeks  to  New  York,  where  I  fell  into  the  hands  of  very- 
bad  surgeons. 

"  This  IS  all  I  can  tell  you  about  my  unfortunate  expedi- 
tion, which  has  been  unlucky,  not  for  me  alone,  the  English 
having  lost  a  much  greater  number  of  men  than  I,  without 
gaining  an  inch  of  territory." 

Sliortly  after  the  commencement  of  the  action 
Gen.  Johnson  received  a  painful  wound,  which 
obb'ged  him  to  retire  to  his  tent,  when  the  com- 
mand devolved  on  Gen.  Lvman,  who  behaved 
with  distinguished  bravery. 

The  misfortunes  of  the  French  were  not  over. 
Col.  Blanchard,  at  Fort  Lyman,  having  heard 
the  firing,  dispatched  a  party  of  two  hundred 
and  fifty  men  of  the  New  Hampshire  and  New 
York  regiments,  under  Capt.  Maginness  of 
Schenectady,  with  orders  to  proceed  to  the  as- 
sistance of  the  General.  Having  arri.ed  to 
where  the  action  took  place  in  the  morning, 
they  discovered  the  enemy's  baggage  lying  in 
the  road,  and  at  some  distance,  on  the  top  of  a 
hill,  five  or  six  men  keeping  a  lookout.  They 
got  betvv'cen  the  baggage  and  the  men,  and, 
advancing  up  the  road,  discovered  a  party  of 


'?    i! 


Il 


Albany. 


11 


i^ 


122 


LAKE   GEORGE   ANT) 


,U|||^.. 


Canadians  and  Indians  to  tlie  number  of  three 
hundred,  sitting  by  Rocky  Brook  r.ad  the  marshy 
pond  refreshing  themselves  frori  their  packs. 
They  attacked  and  defeated  them,  killed  num- 
bers and  put  the  rcot  to  flight. 

The  number  that  fell  at  this  engagement  was 
so  great  that  the  brook  issuing  from  the  water 
was  the  next  morning  observed  to  be  discolored 
with  blood.  Hence  the  name  of  Bloody  Pond 
Avas  given  to  the  pool. 

Thus  closed  the  battle  of  Lake  George,  com- 
prising three  engagements  in  one  day.  The 
French  loss  was  about  four  hundred  men.  It 
included  La  Gardeur  de  St.  Pierre,  the  same 
wdio  had  defeated  Washington  the  previous  year 
on  the  Ohio.  That  of  the  provincials  was  two 
hundred  and  sixty-two,  besides  officers,  and 
thirty-eight  allied  Indians.  Among  the  losses, 
in  addition  to  Col.  Williams  and  the  great  Ilen- 
drick,  was  Col.  Titcomb,  Major  Ashley,  Capts. 
Keys,  Porter,  Ingersoll  and  twelve  other  officers. 
The  brave  Capt.  Maginness  died  two  days  after, 
of  his  wounds,  in  camp. 

The  result  of  this  action,  being  in  glorious 
contrast  to  the  disasters  elsewhere,  caused  great 
rejoicing  among  the  English.  It  was  the  event 
of  the  campaign  of  1755.  "  Solitary  in  the 
honor   of   its    military  triumph,    and    shining 


nnnnn 


LAKE  CIIAMPLAIN. 


123 


\y 


out  bright  as  Mara  from  tlie  clouds  of  night."* 
The  House  of  Lords  made  an  elegant  address. 
Parliament  voted  a  gratuity  of  live  thousand 
pounds  to  Gen.  Johnson,  who  was  also  made  a 
baronet.  Tne  Governor  appointed  Thursday,  the 
second  day  of  October,  as  a  day  of  thanksgiving 
for  the  defeat  of  the  enemy. 

Two  days  after,  the  General  received  a  depu- 
tation from  the  Six  Nations,  who  informed  him 
that  pursuant  to  their  custom  after  an  engage- 
ment, they  now  intended  to  return  to  their 
homes,  as  their  loss  was  very  considerable,  both 
in  numbers  and  in  the  personal  consequence  of 
the  slain. f 

*  Rev.  C.  Vh,n  Rensselaer. 

f  Rev.  Mr.  Ilartwick,  missionary  to  the  Mohawks,  writing^ 
to  them  under  date  of  Jan.  15, 1756,  in  regard  to  the  death 
of  the  great  Ilendrick,  says  :  "  Let  it  be  to  yonr  comfort  that 
he  died  in  a  good  cause  as  a  ftiithful  ally  and  a  brave  cap- 
tain, and  sleepeth  on  the  bed  of  honor,  where  his  name  will 
be  a  good  savior  as  long  as  a  free  Englishman  and  a  faithful 
Mohawk  remains ;  and  as  he  hath  been  your  brother,  your 
father  and  your  captain,  it  is  your  duty  to  be  a  guard  to  the 
bed  whereon  he  sleepeth,  that  no  perfidious  Frenchman  may 
disturb  the  rest  of  his  bones  and  ashes ;  and  if  the  French 
and  their  slaves  will  not  rest  satisfied  with  the  little  revenge 
you  have  taken  from  them,  and  desist  from  their  encroach- 
ments and  cruel  ravages,  and  restore  what  they  have  unjustly 
taken,  then  stand  up  for  your  and  your  brethren's  rights, 
and  revenge  the  dear  blood  so  unjustly  spilled." 


in 


I  ) 


<    i! 


w 


124 


LAKE  GEORGE   AND 


I 


\ 


On  tlie  IGtli  of  September  Gen.  Johnson 
writes  to  Gov.  Hardy  tliat  the  expedition  "was 
likely  to  be  distressed  for  tlie  Avant  of  wagons. 
Most  of  the  wagoners  taken  into  the  service 
have  deserted,  the  horses  are  quite  jaded,  and 
some  few' killed  by  the  enemy,  while  several 
have  ran  away.  Most  of  the  provisions  are  at 
Albany,  a  great  part  of  the  ammunition  at  the 
lower  camp  (Fort  Lyman),  and  all  the  boats, 
except  about  120.  We  have  only  sixty  wagons, 
and  had  not  two  days'  allowance  of  bread  when 
they  arrived.  To  bring  up  a  sufficiency  of  pro- 
visions will  require  500  wagons  at  least." 

Meanwhile  the  breastwork  was  strengthened, 
and  carried  quite  around  the  camp,  the  ground 
cleared,  and  a  picketed  fort  built,  which  Col. 
Williams  had  in  charge  till  the  visit  of  the 
enemy  put  an  end  to  his  life.  Flat  bottom  boats 
were  also  built  for  the  transport  of  the  artillery 
and  stores. 

Johnson  has  been  blamed  for  "  not  moving 
directly  upon  the  enemy's  works ;"  but  the  rea- 
sons why  he  did  not  proceed  must  be  obvious 
to  every  military  (or  unmilitary)  mind.  1.  The 
French  outnumbered  him  at  St.  Frederick.  2. 
They  occupied  and  were  fortifying  the  pass  at 
Carillon.  3.  He  had  neither  provisions,  ammu- 
nition or  transportation. 


LAKE   CIIAMrLAlN. 


125 


ion 


By  the  time  the  re-enforccmcnts  and  supplies 
Imd  come  up,  the  council  of  war,  considering 
the  advanced  period  of  the  year,  decided  that  it 
was  not  advisable  to  proceed  further  this  season. 

Sept.  10th.  The  General  ordered  up  Col. 
Blanchard,  with  liis  regiment,  from  Fort  Lyman,* 
in  which  were  Capt.  Robert  Rogers,  John  Stark 
and  others  of  revolutionary  fame. 

Aftei  the  fort  was  constructed,  which  was 
named  "William  IIenry,f  the  troops,  except  six 
hundred  who  remained  in  garrison  at  the  two 
places,  were  withdrawn  to  Albany  and  dis- 
banded. 


*  Dr.  Fitch  states,  on  the  authority  of  Timothy  Eddy,  that 
Catharine,  daughter  of  John  Henry  Lydius  (referred  to  at 
page  109,  ante),  was  bom  at  Fort  Edward,  about  1744,  and 
was  the  first  child  born  of  civilized  parents  in  Washington 
county.  She  married  Henry  Cuyler,  and  died  about  1818,  at 
Greenbush. 

f  It  was  named  in  honor  of  the  Duko  of  Cumberland, 
brother  to  George  HI. 
11* 


LLilMlPMWgJ'CMWHi  MUXm  WW 


II  I 


i 

1 

1 

1 

5 

ii 

'! 

1 

126 


LAKE   QEOROE 


Hefercnces  to  Samuel  Blodgett's  map  of  the 
Second  Enoage>ient. 

6.  Canadians  and  Indians, 

7.  French  regulars  attacking  tho  center. 

8.  Tlie  road. 

9.  Provincials  in  action  posted  in  front. 

10.  The -trees  felled  for  tl?o  breast  woiks. 

11.  Cannon. 

12.  A  cannon  posted  "advantageously"  on  the  eminence. 

13.  Place  where  Dieskau  ftdl, 

14.  15.  Canadians'  attack. 

10.  The  man  that  shot  Dieskau. 

17.  Reserves. 

18.  Woods  and  swamp. 

19.  Morass. 

20.  Cannon  defending  the  flank. 

21.  Baggage  wagon?. 

23,  23,  24,  Stores  and  ammunition. 

25.  Mortars. 

20.  Road  to  the  lake. 

27,  28,  29.  Store-houses. 

30.  Mohawks. 

31.  Gen.  Johnson's  tent. 

32.  Lyman's  regiment. 

33.  Col.  Harris'  company. 

34.  Col.  Cockroft. 

35.  Col.  Williams. 
30.  Col.  Rugglos. 

37.  Col.  Titcomb. 

38.  Col.  Guttridge. 

39.  Officers. 

The  map,  besides  being  very  unique,  possesses  great  his- 
torical value.  Blodgett  appears  to  have  been  a  sutler  for 
the  rangers.    His  name  occurs  three  years  after. 


4-1 


''*M<. 


11 


mttmm 


( 
( 


T 


CHAPTER  Vn. 

WlNSLOW'S  EXPEDITION  —  BUILT  A  FORT  AT  STILLWATER  —  JOURNAI. 
OP  THE  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  SCOUTS  —  ROGERS  —  PUTNAM  —  STMS — 
DOOLITTLE  — ROGERS'  SKIRMISH  WITH  THK  FRENCH  PICKET  — 
HENDRICK  ANO  NICHLAS  —  CAPT.  ANGELL  —  CAPT.  CONNER  — 
TUODAY  —  THOMPSON  —  PUTNAM  AND  SCHUYLER  —  PALES  —  ROG- 
ERS' WINTER  EXCURSION  -Ills  NAVAL  ENGAGEMENT  ON  LAKE 
CHAMPLAIN— DE  LA  COLUMBIERE  —  TICONDEROOA,  FORT  BUILT  — 
ROGERS'  AND  STAB'^-'s  WINTER  EXPEDITION  TO  CROWN  POINT  — 
FRENCH  WINTER  EXPEDITION  AGAINST  WM.  HENRT — CAPTURE  OF  ▲ 
TRAIN  AT  HALFWAY  BROOK  —  PURSUIT  BY  ROGERS. 

1756. 

"X  the  sumirier  of  1756,  six  thousand 
troops  were  collected  under  Col.  Seth 
Winslow,  who  commanded  the  expe- 
dition which  the  previous  year  had 
reduced  Acadia.*  At  Stillwater  he  built  a 
stockade  known  as  Fort  Winslow,  which  served 
as  a  depot  for  supplies.f     lie  advanced  with  his 

*Beauslpy  Glazier  was  made  the  adjutant-general  of  the 
forces,  and  Col.  Elcazur  Fitch  the  third  in  command. 

f  The  fort  was  on  the  elevated  ground  at  the  north  end 
of  the  village,  about  where  the  Presbyterian  church  now 
Btands,  and  on  the  flat  below  this,  a  few  rods  from  the  river, 
were  the  store-houses,  two  long  buildings,  which  were  kept 
in  good  repair  and  continued  to  be  used  for  the  public  ser- 
vice through  the  revolutionary  war.    Dickinson. 


**■    «M 


128 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


army  as  far  as  Fort  Edward  and  Lake  George, 
but  his  orders  did  not  permit  liim  to  go  further, 
and  the  tide  of  war  swept  over  other  portions 
of  the  continent. 

The  two  nations  having  now  each  a  fort  upon 
either  extremity  of  Lake  George,  and  but  thirty 
miles  apart,  the  same  became  a  scene  of  petty 
warfare,  that  has  clothed  every  pass,  island,  river 
and  bay  with  some  tradition  of  hair-breadth 
escape,  heroic  endurance  or  startling  incident. 

1.  From  the  journals  of  the  New  Hampshire 
scouts  we  learn  that  as  early  as  Septemljer  24, 
1755,  Capt.  Robert  Rogers  commenced  his  fa- 
mous partisan  career,  by  setting  forward  with 
two  men  to  reconnoitcr  Fort  St.  Frederick, 'the 
new  works  at  Carillon,  and  the  army  there.  Ho 
returned  on  the  25th. 

2.  September  27,  p.  m.  He  set  forward  again 
in  a  birch  canoe,  with  five  men,  to  reconnoiter  the 
encampment  at "  Tirondarogue ; "  past  sundry  In- 
dian tires  (their  spies)  by  the  side  of  the  lake  ;  put 
ashore  seven  miles  from  the  carrying  place  and 
went  forward  on  foot;  about  ten  a.  m.  they 
came  in  view  of  an  encampment,  on  the  lake,  of 
about  one  thousand  men ;  "  we  crawled  through 
their  guards  to  within  about  thirty  or  forty  rods 
of  the  encampment ;  there  was  no  fort  or  artil- 
lery there;  we  retired  and  went  about  a  mile 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIN. 


129 


and  a  half  further  and  discovered  their  grand 
encampment;  crept  tlirough  their  guards  to 
within  about  sixty  rods ;  found  a  fort  building 
there  and  cannon  mounted ;  by  the  appearance 
of  the  tents  we  judged  there  might  be  three 
thousand  troops ;  the  situation  commands  the 
passage' at  the  carrying  place,  and  also  up  and 
down  Lake  Champlain  ;  on  our  return  waylaid  a 
.canoe  with  one  Frenchman  and  nine  Indians ; 
disabled  six  and  chased  the  remaining  four." 

3.  October  7th.  "Went  out  with  a  party  of 
fifty  men,  including  Capt.  Israel  Putnam ;  saw 
twenty-three  of  the  enemy  and  made  a  decoy 
for  them,  of  one  canoe,  but  they  would  not  fol- 
low it ;  returned  on  the  11th. 

X.  Oct.  13th.  Capt.  Syms  went  out  with  fifty 
men,  about  tln'ee  miles  on  the  wast  side  of  the 
lake.  Toward  evening  he  posted  a  sentry,  who 
was  shot  and  scalped,  and  a  hatchet  left  in  his 
head.  The  enemy  were  probably  four  or  five 
Indians.  Capt.  Syms  ordered  all  to  arms,  and 
proceeded  to  the  place,  when,  to  his  astonish- 
ment, he  had  but  fifteen  men  with  him.  On 
looking  back,  they  cried,  "  For  God's  sake  call 
us  together,  or  we  shall  be  cut  off,"  upon  which 
"  I  ordered  them  to  spread  out  in  the  form  of  a 
half  moon  in  order  to  discover  the  enemy.  I 
was  deserted  by  all  but  five  or  six  men  except 


130 


LAKE   GEORGE  AND 


the  lieutenant.  On  my  return  to  camp  we 
found  the  men  in  great  distress,  tying  up  their 
packs,  upon  which  I  doubled  the  guard,  and 
ordered  all  to  stand  their  ground,  upon  their 
peril.  I  could  prevail  upon  but  thirteen  men 
to  proceed  further,  and  therefore  judged  best  to 
return.  I  now  stand  ready  upon  all  orders  to 
pursue  your  commands  to  a  tittle  on  my  part, 
provided  I  can  have  such  materials  as  are  lit  for 
the  purpose ;  and  whenever  I  fail,  let  me  be 
stigmatized."* 

5.  Lieut.  Jelles  Fonda,  with  a  sergeant  and 
twelve  men,  having  orders  to  go  forward  on  the 
scout,  came  upon  a  party  commanded  by  Lieut. 
Van  Schaick,  and  on  asking  the  reason  why  he 
returned  so  soon,  or  why  they  had  not  pro- 
ceeded, stated  that  one  of  their  men  was  sick 
and  unfit  to  proceed.  lie  then  came  up  with 
the  party  above,  commanded  by  Capt.  Syms. 
lie  gave  them  orders  to  march  forward,  which 
they  all,  excepting  two,  refused  to  do.  lie  then 
directed  his  own  party  to  take  their  blankets 
and  provisions  and  go  forward,  which  they 
refused  to  give  up  except  to  their  own  officers. 

Fonda  says :  "  I  then  called  and  said,  'All  you 
that  are   cowards  come   and  I  will  take  vour 


*  Syms'  report  to  Gen.  Johnson. 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIN. 


131 


names  down;'  and  they  came  so  thick  that  T 
could  .  ^e  but  ten  or  twelve  left  of  the  w^holo 
party,  who  were  mostly  New  Yorkers.  I  then 
asked  the  commander  what  he  would  do,  or 
whether  he  understood  me  that  he  v/as  to  go 
forward.  lie  said  ho  believed  he  would  come 
back,  so  we  returned  to  the  camp." 

6.  October  1-t,  Capt.  Rogers  and  four  men 
embarked  in  a  birch  canoe,  sailed  twenty -five 
miles,  landed  on  the  west  side  of  the  lake,  then 
traveled  by  land,  and  on  the  18th  arrived  on  the 
mountain  on  the  west  side  of  Fort  St.  Frederick, 
lay  there  that  night  and  the  next  day,  and  ob- 
served the  enemy's  motions.  In  the  evening  I 
went  down  to  the  houses  that  were  built  upon 
the  lake,  and  went  into  a  barn  filled  with  wheat, 
and  proceeded  with  one  man  to  make  further 
discoveries ;  ambushed  within  sixty  rods  of  the 
fort  until  about  ten  o'clock  ;  judged  the  number 
in  the  fort  to  be  about  five  hundred ;  at  length 
a  Frenchman  came  out  without  his  gun  and 
came  within  fifteen  rods  of  us  when  I,  with  an- 
other man,  ran  up  to  him  to  capture  him  ;  he 
refused  to  surrender,  so  we  killed  him,  and  took 
off  his  scalp,  within  plain  sight  of  the  fort,  and 
then  ran  and  made  our  escape  ;  the  same  night 
came  in  sight  of  "  Tianarago,"  and  upon  a 
mountain  in  plain  sight  of  their  fort,  we  saw 


HHI 


132 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


large  encampments  and  judged  there  were  two 
thousand  men ;  got  to  our  canoes  about  eight 
o'clock  in  the  morning  and  found  all  safe  and 
well. 

7.  October  2-i.  Capt.  Doolittle  went  out  to 
Carillon  and  found  that  the  advance  or  flying 
camp  of  the  French,  comprising  about  one  hun- 
dred men,  was  on  the  west  side  of  the  lake,  below 
the  narrows. 

8.  October  26.  Capt.  Reed  passed  over  to 
South  Bay,  but  made  no  discovery. 

Rogers'  skirmish. 

9.  October  29.  Pursuant  to  orders,  went  down 
the  lake  with  the  party  ordered  to  me,  and  on 
the  thirty-first  discovered  their  fires  situated  on 
a  point  of  land  on  the  west  side  of  the  lake,* 
upon  which  we  landed,  on  the  same  side,  about 
a  mile  and  a  half  distant  from  their  encamp- 
ment, and  the  next  morning  sent  out  scouts  for 
further  discovery ;  in  the  evening  Capt.  Fletcher, 
one  of  the  scouts,  returned  and  reported  that 
there  were  four  tents  and  sundry  small  fires  on 
the  said  point ;  I  then  took  a  bateau,  with  five 
men,  and  went  down  within  twenty-five  rods  of 
their  fires  and  discovered  a  small  fort  with  seve- 
ral log  camps  within  it,  which  I  judged  to  con- 

*  Probably  at  Friend's  Point,  in  Hayne. 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIN 


13a 


tain  about  a  quarter  of  an  aero.  The  next 
morning  Capt.  Putnam  returned  and  gave  pretty 
much  tlie  same  account ;  for  a  more  critical  ex- 
amination of  the  enemy's  proceedings  ne  went 
forward  until  he  was  so  nigli  that  he  was  fired 
upon  by  a  sentry  within  a  rod  of  him  ;  but,  unfor- 
tunately, Putnam,  upon  preparing  to  lire  back, 
fell  into  a  clay  pit  and  wet  his  gun ;  hearing  tho 
enemy  close  upon  his  heels,  he  made  tlie  best 
retreat  ho  was  able,  and  luckily  escaped  safe  to 
our  party  ;  soon  after  there  was  a  discovery  made 
of  two  Frenchmen  upon  a  hill  a  small  distance 
off,  which  overlooked  our  ambush,  who  called 
to  us,  but  in  a  few  minutes  they  retreated. 
Two  canoes  then  appeared  and  went  by  us,  and 
lay  in  the  middle  of  the  lake,  about  forty  rods 
distant  from  each  other;  so  that  finding  there 
was  a  party  coming  by  land,  I  lay  between 
two  fires ;  on  this,  I  ordered  two  bateaux  into 
the  water,  put  Lieut.  Grant,  with  six  men,  in  one 
and  I  went  with  six  men  in  the  other ;  we  put 
them  to  rout,  and  surprised  them  so  that  they 
made  for  the  shore  wdiere  Capt.  Putnam,  with 
the  rest  of  our  party,  lay.  He  was  prepared  for 
them  and  shot  and  killed  the  cockswain,  and  by 
our  wall  pieces,  we  killed  divers  of  them  ;  but 
upon  Putnam's  firing  into  the  boats,  the  enemy 
that  was  upon  his  back  fired  upon  him,  and  ho 
12 


I' 

i; 


134 


LAKE    GKOKGE   AND 


i 


I 


had  but  just  time  to  shove  liis  ))ateau  into  the 
water  and  got  into  it  before  tlie  enemy  wore 
upon  the  water's  edge  and  ojiened  a  brisk  fire 
upon  him;  shot  through  his  bhinket  in  several 
phaccs,  and  tlirough  the  bateau.  We  ])ursued 
their  canoc3  to  witliin  about  eiglitjrods  of  their 
fires;  discovered  a  number  of  men  witliin  forty 
rods  of  us  on  the  shore,  on  each  bide,  gave  them 
eaeh  a  broadside  which  sent  them  into  the 
buslies,  and  gave  us  a  clear  passage  homeward. 
Had  one  wounded  after  an  engagement  which 
lasted  two  hours. 

10.  Nov.  2.  Ilendrick  and  Nicklas,  two  Mo- 
hawks, went  upon  a  scout  toward  Crown  Point 
and  Carillon,  but  made  no  fresh  discoveries ; 
returned  on  the  lltli. 

11.  Nov.  3.  Capt.  Angell  put  out  from  the 
camp,  and  about  seven  mikis  out  saw  a  fire  on 
the  east  side  of  the  lake,  on  a  neck  of  lowland. 
About  fourteen  miles,  on  the  west  shore,  saw 
another  fire,  which  he  passed  at  two  or  three 
miles  distant.  The  wind  blew  fresh,  and  it 
rained  and  was  very  dark.  Landed  and  went 
on  to  a  very  high  mountain;  saw  no  smoke, 
only  at  a  great  distance,  toward  Carillon,  and 
returned. 

12.  Nov.  5.  James  Conner,  with  five  men, 
went  out  to  discover  the  position  of  the  enemy's 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIN. 


135 


advanced  Oiiinp.  Lay  at  tlie  inoutli  of  tlic  Nar- 
rows that  iil^'ht.  All  next  day  lay  still  till  even- 
ing, about  seven  o'clock,  then  went  on,  and 
about  ten  o'clock  came  in  between  two  of  their 
flank  fires,  and  saw  them  relieving  their  guard. 
A  breastwork  was  around  their  encampment, 
with  p*  "kets,  and  several  log-houses;  judged  it 
might  contain  150  men.  Joined  the  other  men 
at  the  bateau;  lay  still  till  about  twelve 
o'clock  at  night,  then  set  oft';  at  three  o'clock 
in  the  morning  struck  up  a  little  tiro  upon  a 
small  island  about  twenty  miles  from  home; 
half  an  hour  afterward  heard  a  whooping  of 
Indians  on  the  west  side  of  the  lake ;  kept  a 
strict  watch  till  morning,  and  then  returned 
home. 

13.  Nov.  8.  Michael  Thoday*  was  sent  out 
on  a  scout  to  South  Bay  and  the  falls  of  Wood 
creek  (Whitehall).  Discovered  four  Indians  and 
three  Frenchmen  by  the  rise  of  smoke  from  a 
little  hut  on  a  side-hill ;  lay  in  ambush;  shortly 
the  sentry  discovered  four  of  them  comiuir 
within  a  rod  or  two  of  him,  but  having  a  great 
cold  he  was  seized  with  a  fit  of  couffhinsr, 
although  he  put  his  hand  to  his  mouth ;  upon 


*  Thoday's  name  appears  as  a  mustering  officer  in  Aber- 
crombie's  expedition,  in  1758. 


136 


LAKE   OEOKOE   AND 


which,  thinkinj^  he  was  dtscovered,  he  fired 
upon  them ;  one  dropped  and  screamed  out  bit- 
terly.    The  party  then  returned. 

14.  Nov.  13.  Sergeant  Thompson,  of  the 
Hhode  Island  regiment,  with  four  men,  went 
down  the  lake  at  seven  o'clock  in  the  evening. 
Landed  on  an  island  about  eight  miles  off; 
struck  up  a  fire  and  had  supper,  when  Conner 
joined  them,  and  they  set  off  to  a  small  island* 
about  a  mile  this  side  of  the  Narrows;  went 
ashore  and  reconnoitered ;  then  went  around  the 
island  twice  in  a  bateau,  by  which  time  it  was 
sunrise,  and  immediately  a  large  white  flag  was 
hoisted  on  a  point  of  the  main-land  on  the  cast 
side  of  the  lake,  supposed  to  be  a  signal  of  the 
enemy. 

15.  15th.  Capt.  Israel  Putnam  and  Stephen 
Schuyler  passed  over  to  South  Bay ;  went  down 
the  lake;  saw  a  large  body  of  ducks  and  geese, 
but  no  enemy.  ,  ( 

16.  17th.  Capt.  Fales,  with  a  party,  went 
down  the  wagon  road  about  three  miles,  turned 
to  the  east  and  north,  and  returned  to  the  camp. 

Jan.  29,  1756.  Capt.  Robert  Rogers  set 

with  a  party  of  fifty  men  on  snow-shoes,  to 

look  into  Fort   St.   Frederick.     The   first  day 


*  Possibly  Dome  islaud. 


LAKK   CHAM1»LAIN. 


137 


tlicy  niantlicd  eiglitecn  miles,  and  so  proceeded 
till  Feln'uary  2d,  when  they  "  cljunbercd  up  a 
great  mountain  west  of  Crown  Point,  and  gave 
it  the  name  of  Mt.  Ogden.  Took  a  particular 
view  of  the  fort  and  redoubts,  and  in  the  even- 
ing came  down  ;  marched  through  a  snuill  vil- 
lage to  about  half  a  mile  of  the  fort  to  the 
southward;  then  lay  in  ambush  till  nine  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  when  a  Frenchman  came  along, 
whom  wc  captured.  Two  more  came  along,  but 
discovering  our  ambush,  made  their  escape.  So, 
being  discovered,  we  immediately  set  fire  to  the 
barns  and  houses,  where  there  was  an  abundance 
of  wheat  and  other  grains.  We  killed  their 
cattle,  horses  and  hogs,  in  number  about  fifty, 
and  about  eleven  o'clock  of  the  5th  of  Febru- 
ary, set  out  homeward." 

18.  June  20.  Pursuant  to  an  order  from 
Major-General  Shirley,  Capt.  Rogers  set  out 
with  a  party  of  fifty  men,  in  five  whale-boats, 
and  proceeded  down  Lake  George  about  twenty- 
five  miles,  then  landed*  and  took  their  boats  six 
miles  over  a  mountain  to  South  Bay,  where  they 
arrived  July  3d,  and  passed  down  Lake  Cham- 
plain  to  within  six  miles  of  Ticonderoga.  July 
4rth,  in   the   evening,  they  set  out  again,  and 


At  Bosom  Bay. 


12* 


138 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


i!  :    I 


passed  by  Ticonderoga,  although  tliey  went  so 
near  as  to  hear  the  sentry's  watchword.    Judged 
the  number  of  the  enemy  to  be  about  two  thou- 
sand ;  "  hauled  up  at  daylight  five  miles  from 
the  fort;  lay  quiet  all  day.     6th.  Saw  near  a 
hundred  boats  pass,  seven  of  which  came  near 
us,  and  asked  to  land  at  the  point  where  we  lay, 
but  their  officer  went  further  on,  and  landed 
about  twentv-live  rods  from  ns.  and  dined  in 
our  view.     About  nine  o'clock  r.  m.  set   out 
again ;   passed  the  fort  at  Crown  Point  about 
ten  miles,  and  hauled   iip  the  boats  at  break 
of  day.     Tth.  Set  out  again ;  proceeded  fifteen 
miles  further  down,  and  wont  ashore  npon  a 
point  upon  the  east  side  (Otter  creek),  and  sent 
a  party  further  down  the  lake  for  discovery. 
About  three  o'clock  two  lighters  came  up  the 
lake,  who  v/e  found  intended  to  land  where  we 
were.     We  fired  upon  the  vessels,  and  offered 
them  quarter  if  they  would  come  ashore,  but 
instead  they  put  off  in  their  boats  to  the  oppo- 
site side,  but  we  intercepted  them,  and  found 
twelve  men,  three  of  whicii  were  killed  and  two 
wounded.      One   of   the   M'ounded   could    not 
march,  therefore  put  an  end  to  him  to  prevent 
discovery.     As  soon  as  the  prisoners  were  secure, 
we  employed  ourselves  in  sinking  and  destroy- 
ing  vessels   and    cargoes,   which   were   chiefly 


LAKE   CII^\3IPLAIN. 


139 


wheat,  flour,  rice,  wine,  and  brandy,  except 
some  few  casks  of  the  wine  and  brandy,  which 
we  hid  in  very  secure  places,  witli  our  whale- 
boats,  at  some  distance  on  the  opposite  shore. 
On  the  morning  of  the  8tli  we  set  forward  on 
our  return,  and  pursued  our  march  till  the  12th, 
when  we  arrived  on  the  west  side  of  Lake 
George,  about  twenty-five  miles  from  the  fort. 
Here  we  sent  Lieut.  Rogers  for  bateaux  and 
provisions  to  carry  us  in  by  water." 

Meanwhile  the  French  were  not  idle,  and  up 
to  the  close  of  June  had  brought  in  seventy-five 
prisoners  and  forty-five  scalps,  two  of  whom 
were  officers. 

10,  At  the  end  of  July,  a  Canadian  ofilcer  on 
a  scout,  near  Fort  AVm.  Henry,  met  two  English 
bateaux  with  thirty-five  men  ;  killed  thirty  and 
captured  five. 

20.  Aug.  6.  Capt.  De  la  Columbiere,  at  the 
head  of  sixty  men,  sto2:)ped  sixteen  English 
horsemen,  on  the  road  near  Lake  George ;  killed 
nine ;  took  seven  prisoners  ;  and  brought  horses 
and  plunder  to  Carillon. 

During  the  year  the  French,  under  the 
direction  of  their  chief  engineer,  M.  de  Lot- 
biniere,  completed  their  fortress  at  Ticonde- 
roga ;  although  it  was  claimed  that  it  was 
improperly  located  and  faulty  in  construction. 


mtm 


140 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


In  October  "Winslow  retired  from  Fort  Edward, 
and  the  troops,  except  what  were  required  for 
garrison  duty,  were  disbanded.  De  Lev*  also 
witlidrew  liis  outposts  from  Lake  George,  and 
broke  up  his  encampment  at  Carillon,  not,  how- 
ever, before  the  snow  was  a  foot  deep,  and 
retired  to  Montreal. 

21.  January  21,  1757.  Major  Rogers,  with 
Lieut.  Stark,  of  Blanchard's  regiment,  set  out 
on  a  reconnoisance  and  for  the  purpose  of  taking 
some  prisoners  at  Crown  Point  or  Ticonderoga. 
At  a  place  since  known  as  Putnam's  Creek,  on 
Lake  Champlain,  they  ambushe cl  a  merry-making 
party  who  were  convoying  some  provisions  from 
St.  Frederick  to  Carillon ;  seven  of  the  sledges 
were  captured,  with  twice  the  number  of  horses. 
The  news  was  borne  down  to  M.  de  Lusignan, 
the  commandant  at  Carillon,  who  swiftly  sent 
out  an  avenging  party  of  two  hundred  and  fifty 
men  to  intercept  them  ;  they  overtook  the  in- 
truders about  three  o'clock,  who  retired  to  a 
rising  ground  ;  they  received  the  fii*st  fire  when 
not  twenty  feet  from  the  enemy ;  Rogers  was 
wounded  on  the  wrist  and  also  on  the  head,  and 
the  command  devolved  on  Stark,  who  kept  up 
a  steady  fire  from  two  o'clock  until  sunset. 
While  encouraging  his  men  a  bullet  struck  the 
lock   of  his   gun   and   shattered   it   in   pieces. 


LAKE   CHAMPLAIIsr. 


141 


Springing  forward  on  a  reeling  Frenchman,  lie 
wrenclied  his  piece  from  his  dying  grasp  and 
resumed  the  fight.*  Thus  they  stood,  in  snow 
four  feet  deep,  until,  in  the  cold  of  that  January 
night,  the  French  withdrew  with  a  loss  of  eleven 
killed  and  twenty-six  wounded. f  The  provin- 
cials now  retired,  with  a  loss  of  forty-two  killed 
and  missing.  All  night  they  marched  through 
the  woods  to  the  borders  of  Lake  George. 
Here,  leaving  the  connnand,  Stark,  with  two 
companions  on  snow-shoes,  pushed  forward  to 
William  Henry.  Having  obtained  sleds  for  the 
wounded,  and  refreshments,  he  without  delay 
set  out  for  his  companions,  reaching  their 
bivouac  the  next  morning,  having  traversed  to 
and  from,  a  distance  of  forty  miles.  Finally  he 
drew  a  loaded  sled  back  to  the  fort.  He  thus 
stood  ^ut  three  days  and  two  nights  of  excessive 
toil,  four  hours  of  which  was  in  the  excitement 
of  battle,  thereby  presenting  such  a  case  of 
heroism  and  physical  endurance  as  has  been 
rarely  equaled. 

10.  In  the  month  of  February  an  expedition 
Mas  tilted  out  at  Montreal  for  an  attack  on  Fort 


*  Hcadley. 

t  This  battle  is  Baid  to  have  been  fought  near  the  residence 
of  M.  B.  Townsend,  in  Crown  Point. 


J  fif 


142 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


"William  Henry.  It  was  composed  of  five  com- 
panies of  picked  men,  from  the  regiments  of 
regulars,  three  hundred  of  the  Colonial  troops, 
six  hundred  and  fifty  militia  and  three  hundred 
Indians  ;  the  whole  comprising  fifteen  hmidred 
men,  under  the  command  of  Kegand  De  Yau- 
dreuil,  brother  of  the  Governor-General  of 
Canada;  they  marched  in  four  divisions  and 
rendezvoused  at  Carillon. 

March  15.  The  entire  body  of  troops  moved 
out  "  on  snow-shoes,  carrying  their  provisions  on. 
sleds,  drawn  by  dogs,  and  sleeping  in  the 
Bnow  upon  a  bear  skin,  under  a  simple  sail  to 
keep  off  the  wind."*  On  the  17th,  at  seven 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  they  arrived  within  a 
league  of  William  Henry. f  Captain  PouUan- 
ing,  with  two  other  oflicers,  was  dispatched  to 
reconnoiter  the  fort,  from  a  hill  by  which  it  is 
commanded.:]: 


*  Montcalm  to  Argenson,  Doc.  x,  547. 

f  Probably  Rattlesnake  Hill.     Ed. 

:j:  While  going  his  rounds,  on  the  evening  of  the  sixteenth, 
Capt.  Stark  overheard  a  squad  of  his  men,  Avho  were  of 
the  Scotch-Irish  race,  planning  a  celebration  in  honor  of  St. 
Patrick,  for  the  next  night.  He  afterward  said  he  had  then 
no  presentiment  of  approaching  danger,  but  disliked  these 
wild  Irish  demonstrations.  He  therefore  called  for  the 
ranger  sutler,  Samuel  Blodgett,  and  gave  hira  directiona  to 


1 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIN. 


143 


On  the  19tli  Yaudreuil  set  fire  to  some  of 
the  bateaux. 


deliver  the  rangers  tlicir  regular  rations  of  grog  until  tho 
evening  of  the  seventeenth,  and  after  that  no  more  without 
a  written  order  from  himself.  On  that  evening  he  retired 
to  his  quarters,  directing  his  orderly-sergeant  to  say  to  all 
applicants  for  written  orders,  that  he  was  confined  to  his 
bunk  with  a  lame  right  hand,  and  would  not  be  disturbed. 
The  Irish  troops  (regulars)  secured  an  extra  supply  of  ira 
on  the  night  of  the  sixteenth,  and  commenced  their  carousal, 
which  they  carried  on  with  unabated  vigor  through  tho 
night  and  during  the  ensuing  day  in  honor  of  St.  Patrick 
and  his  wife  Sheelah.  They  drank  so  freely  that  the  officer 
of  the  day  could  find  none  of  them  fit  for  duty  as  sentinels, 
and  the  rangers  who  were  sober  supplied  their  places.  The 
rangers,  seeing  the  Irish  thus  enjoying  themselves,  desired 
the  same  privilege.  The  sutler  informed  them  of  his  orders, 
and  the  captain's  quarters  were  beset  to  obtain  a  written 
order.  The  sergeant  refused  to  disturb  his  officer,  as  he 
was  confined  with  a  painfully  lame  right  hand,  and  could 
not  write.  The  soldiers  felt  somewhat  cross,  but  bore  their 
disappointment  like  philosophers.  At  two  o'clock  on  the 
morning  of  the  eighteenth,  a  ranger  sentinel  on  the  ram- 
parts, observed  a  light  upon  the  lake,  and  soon  afterward 
became  aware  that  a  large  force  was  advancing  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  fortress.  Notice  was  at  once  conveyed  to  tho 
ranger  captain.  The  lame  hand  was  instantly  restored  to 
health,  and  he  was  among  his  soldiers.  Tho  commander 
of  tho  fort  was  quietly  notified,  and  the  rangers  silently 
mustered.  The  near  approach  of  danger  dissipated  tho 
fumes  of  liquor  from  the  brains  of  the  regulars,  and  tho 
garrison  was  soon  in  condition  for  a  rigorous  defense. 

Caleb  Stark. 


, 


144 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


20tli.  IIo  invested  the  fort  and  detached  a 
party  of  Indians  on  the  road  leading  to  Fort 
Edward  to  cut  off  the  communication.  On  the 
nights  of  the  20th  and  21st  they  burnt  all  there 
was  outside  the  ramparts,  consisting  of  three 
hundred  bateaux,  four  sloops  of  ten  and  sixteen 
guns,  two  long  boats  of  fifty  oars,  a  saw-mill,  a 
large  pile  of  building  timber,  three  hundred 
cords  of  fire-wood,  two  magazines  full  of  provis- 
ions, including  four  hundred  barrels  of  flour, 
military  stores  and  effects,  and  a  small  stockade 
with  a  dozen  Lo vises,  which  served  as  a  hospi- 
tal.* They  retired  with  a  loss  of  five  killed 
and  two  wounded.  The  fort  at  the  time  was 
under  the  fcommand  of  Lieut. -Col.  Eyre,  "  en- 
gineer in  ordinary,"  who  built  the  same. 

Julv  21.  Chevalier  La  Corne  and  M.  Con- 
treveur  took  their  departure  from  Carillon,  at 
the  head  of  a  flying  camp  of  500  Canadians 
and  200  Indians,  and  moved  up  to  South  Bay 
to  observe  the  motions  of  the  English  troops 
between  Fort  Edward  and  Lake  George.  At 
Half-way  brook  they  fell  upon  a  train  of  wag- 
ons, imder   convoy  of  a  body  of  troops,   who 


*  The  remains  of  one  of  the  schooners  can  now  be  seen 
on  a  still  day,  at  the  north-east  of  Fort  William  Henry,  in 
about  twenty  feet  of  water. 


LAKE    CIIAMPLAIN. 


145 


were  transporting  supplies,  for  Winslow  s  army, 
to  Fort  William  Henry.  The  soldiers  made  but 
little  resistance,  tlie  train  was  plundered,  and 
the  marauders  escaped  with  their  booty  down 
toward  Ticonderoga.  Capts.  Rogers  and  Put- 
nam, with  a  hundred  men  and  twenty-five  small 
cannon,  were  immediately  dispatched  to  inter- 
cept them.  Proceeding  down  the  lake,  they 
hastened  overland  to  the  Two  Rocks,  about 
eight  miles  below.  Here,  while  concealed,  they 
espied  the  bateaux,  laden  with  plunder  and 
unsuspicious  of  danger,  approaching  them.  On 
reaching  the  Narrows  the  rangers  poured  into 
them  a  well-directed  fire,  by  wiiich  many  of  the 
boatmen  were  killed  and  some  of  the  boats 
were  sunk,  but,  driven  by  the  south  wind,  the 
remainder  swept  through  the  passage,  and 
escaped  to  Carillon  with  the  intelligence  of  the 
disaster.  The  rangers  now  hastened  back  to 
their  boats,  reaching  them  at  the  close  of  the 
day.  The  next  morning  they  embarked,  and  at 
Sabbath-day  point  discovered  the  French  and 
Indians  eagerly  approaching  them,  and  antici- 
pating an  easy  victory.  No  resistance  was 
offered  until  the  enemy  was  within  pistol  shot, 
when  from  the  cannon  and  muskets  was  sent 
forth  such  a  shower  of  balls  as  threw  them  into 
confusion.  Men  were  seen  dropping  overboard 
13 


M 


146 


LAKE   GEORGE 


from  the  enemy's  boats,  and  of  twenty  Indians 
in  one,  only  five  remained.  They  soon  drew 
back,  and  the  rangers  passed  on  without  further 
molestation,  with  a  loss  of  one  man  killed  and 
two  wounded. 

22.  A  considerable  detachment  of  Canadi- 
ans and  Indians,  under  Capt.  De  la  Pierre, 
caused  the  provincials  to  abandon  some  of  the 
islands  in  Lake  George  where  they  had  estab- 
lished themselves. 

23.  Lieut.  Marin,  having  been  detached  with 
one  hundred  men  to  reconnoiter  the  camp  at 
Fort  William  Henry,  captured  and  killed  a 
party  of  fifty-two  men  and  three  officers,  only 
one  of  whom  escaped.  • 


i  I. 


,4 


II 


_3 ■ 


CHAPTER  YIII. 

Montcalm's  expedition  —  composition  of  his  army  —  scoutino 
party  op  st.  ours  —  marin  sent  to  fort  edward  —  naval 
victory  over  col.  parker  — tuk  siarcu  and  sail  to  fort  wm. 
.uenry  —  incident — tue  seige  — indian  burial  —  tue  surren- 
der—  the  massacre — tue  prisoners  —  sent  uome  —  port  dis- 
mantled and  destroyed  —  montcalm  retires  to  carillon. 

^-^^^^IlE  commission  to  the  Marquis  do 
%^?fSw^  Montcalm,  appointing  him  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  troops  in  Canada,  which 
$'  became  vacant  by  the  capture  of  the 
Baron  Deiskau,  was  issued  March  1,  175G.* 

lie  was  accompanied  by  the  Chevalier  de  Levi, 
brigadier-general,  and  Col.  Sicur  Boulimaque  ; 


*  Louis  Joseph  Marquis  do  Montcalm,  -was  born  at  tlie 
Chateau  of  Candiac,  near  Nianus,  1712.  At  the  age  of 
fourteen  he  commenced  his  military  career.  He  became 
colonel  in  1745.  Received  three  wounds  in  the  battle  of 
Placensia,  in  Italy,  June  IC,  174G,  and  tvpo  at  Piedmont, 
1747,  in  which  year  he  was  appointed  brigadier.  In  17o6 
he  was  appointed  major-general,  commander  of  the  order 
of  St.  I(Ouis  in  1757,  lieutenant-general  in  1758,  and 
was  mortally  wounded  before  Quebec,  September  13,  1759. 
His  remains  were  interred,  by  torch-light,  in  the  church  of 
the  Ursuline  convent.  It  is  said  he  was  buried  in  a  hole 
made  by  a  shell  —  "a  fit  tomb  for  a  warrior  who  died  on 
the  field  of  honor." 


I  fill 

j 


I 


m 


148 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


also  by  two  additional  regiments,  wliicli  arrived 
at  Quebec  by  three  ships  of  war,  and  tbree 
frigates,  on  the  12th  of  May. 

August  10th.  Montcalm  invested  Oswego. 
In  his  train  of  artillery  were  six  brass  pieces, 
captured  from  Gen.  Biaddock.  Col.  Mercer, 
the  commander  of  the  fort,  was  killed  on  the 
thirteenth,  and  the  next  day  the  garrison  sur- 
rendered. Hardly  had  the  fort  capitulated, 
when  the  French  Indians,  exasperated  by  the 
loss  of  some  of  their  braves,  nttered  their  terrific 
war-cry,  and  with  the  tomahawk  and  knife  were 
about  to  fall  upon  the  unarmed  prisoners.  The 
massacre  that  would  have  ensued  was,  however, 
prevented  by  the  prompt  action  of  Montcalm, 
who  ordered  out  a  file  of  men  and  commanded 
them  to  fire  upon  his  red  allies.  Six  of  the 
savages  fell  dead  upon  the  spot,  and  the  remain- 
der, uttering  threats  of  vengeance,  sulkily  put  up 
their  knives,  and  skulked  back  to  their  quarters.* 
The  fortresses  were  leveled  to  the  ground,  and 
Oswego  was  left  a  solitude,  unbroken,  save  by 
the  hooting  of  the  owl  or  the  scream  of  the 
panther.  Keturning  triumphant,  Montcalm  lost 
no  time  in  arranging  for  the  expedition  against 
Fort  William  Henry.     At  Montreal  he  held  a 


*  Stone's  Life  of  Sir  Wm.  Johnson,  ii,  23. 


ijssssi-. 


LAKE   CIIAMrLAIN. 


149 


Ahenalvis, 

Amclccites, 

Folles, 

Huron  s, 

Loups, 

Mirames, 

Ottawas, 

Puans, 


council  of  Indian  tribes,  gathered  from  Nova 
Scotia  to  Lake  Superior,  mingling  in  their 
dances  and  chanting  their  war-song.  July  12th 
He  proceeded  up  Lake  Champlain  to  Fort  Car- 
illon, accompanied  by  warriors  of  the  following 
tribes : 

Algonkins, 

Ayetois, 

Foxes, 

L'oqiiois  of  the  Sonlt. 

Micmacs, 

Nepissings, 

Ouillas, 

Poutouatomes, 

Santanes. 
In  all  they  numbered  1,806. 

As  they  traversed  the  lake,  their  dexterity  in 
fishing  furnished  an  interesting  spectacle.  Stand- 
ing up  in  the  bow  of  the  canoe,  with  spear  in 
hand,  they  darted  it  with  wonderful  address, 
and  struck  the  large  sturgeons  [muscalonges — 
Ed.]  without  their  little  skiif  (which  tliQ  least 
irregular  motion  would  have  overturned)  appear- 
ing to  lean  in  the  slightest  degree  either  to  the 
right  or  the  left.  Yet,  useful  as  the  fishing  was, 
it  was  not  necessary  to  suspend  the  march  to 
favor  it.  The  fisherman  alone  laid  aside  his 
paddle,  and  in  return  was  charged  to  provide 
13* 


Sacs, 


h     «i 


150 


LAKK   OKORGE   AND 


for  the  subsistence  of  all  the  others,  an  oflRec  in 
whose  duties  he  fully  succeeded.* 

After  beincj  six  days  on  the  route,  they  reached 
Fort  C^arillon.  •  But  scarcely  had  they  bc^uii  to 
distinguish  the  summit  of  the  fortiiications, 
^vhen  the  Indians  arranged  themselves  in  order 
of  battle,  each  tribe  under  its  own  ensign.  Two 
hundred  canoes,  thus  formed  in  Ijcautiful  order, 
furnished  a  spectacle  which  caused  even  the 
French  othcers  to  hasten  to  the  banks,  judging 
it  not  unworthy  of  their  curiosity. 

In  addition  to  the  Indians,  the  Royal  army 
was  composed  as  follows :  Regulars,  seven  regi- 
ments, 3,081 ;  militia  (Canadians),  2,9'4G ;  artil- 
lery, 188  ;  total,  0,215.  Deducting  the  sick,  the 
non-effective,  and  the  garrisons  left  behind,  the 
effective  force  amounted  to  5,500  men ;  adding 
the  Indians,  1,80G,  made  the  whole  force  7,300. 

July  21st.  A  Canadian  officer,  M.  de  St. 
Ours,  wdio  was  scouting  on  Lake  George  in  a 
canoe,  with  ten  men,  in  doubling  a  point  of 
land  was  ambushed  by  two  English  boats  near 
Harbour  island,  south  of  Sabbath-day  point. 
lie  gained  the  island,  where  the  English  eflgerly 
pursued  him,  but  he  made  so  vigorous  a 
defense  that  he  was  allowed   to  embark   and 


;''ii         I 


*  Jesuit  Missions,  by  Bishop  Kip. 


ii    •■'' 


rmy 


le 


near 
>oint. 
gerly 
ills    a 
and 


i»..*v*  „ 


TCALM's    Attack. 

EXPLANATION. 
A    Artillery  Cove. 
B    Road  to  Trench. 

C     Firat  Battery— length.  70  yards ;  breadth.  -iO  feet 
height,  7  feet ;  embraeureB,  W  feet 
C  D  Line  of  TrenchetJ.  578  yards. 
D    Second  Battery— length,  74  yard*  :  breadth,  Stt  ft. 
height,  8  feet ;  enitirusuretf,  10  feet 
E  G  Line  of  Approach,  .320  yarde. 
P    Third  Battery— not  opened. 
H    Line  up  the  Hill  and  at  the  oietii  of  the  Garden 
I     Garden. 

K    Fort  William  Henry. 
L    Morass. 

M    La  Come  and  Canadians 
N    Fort  George. 

0    .lohnsons  Rncntnpment,  8«>pt  .8.  1755 
P     Dwks 

Fort  William  Henry  Hotel. 
Lake  Honsp. 


-m 


"^^ 


w. 


% 


SS5, 


w^ 


w. 


^M\ 


I 


i 


N   OF  THE   SiljT,., 


•"roirtAi'tual  Survey  hy 


3-. 


''.; 


% 
fe 


a 


m 


^ 


WloNTCALM's    Attack. 

EXPLANATION. 

A    Artillery  Cove. 

B    Koad  to  Trench, 

f    First  Battery— length,  70  yards ;  breadth,  20  feet 
height^  7  feet ;  embrasures,  9  feet 
C  D  Line  of  Trenches.  578  j'ards. 

D    Second  Battery— length,  74  yards :  breadth,  36  ft, 
height,  8  feet ;  eniDrasures,  10  feet^ 
E  G  Line  of  Approach,  320  yards. 

F    Third  Battery— not  opened. 

H    Line  up  the  Hill  and  at  the  crest  of  the  Garden 

I     Garden. 

K    Fort  William  Henry. 

L    Morass. 

M    La  Come  and  Canadinm* 

N    Fort  George. 

0    Johnson's  Enenmpment,  Sept  .8.  iT.'iS 

P     Docks 

Q     Fort  William  ftenry  Hotel. 

R    L«ke  House. 


m. 


m 


m 


m 


.«r:^^^ 


LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 


151 


quietly  regain   liis  camp,  Avitli   a   loss   of  one 
killed  and  three  men  wounded.* 

On  the  23d,  M.  Marin,  a  celebrated  partisan, 
made  a  bold  dash  at  Fort  Edward.  lie  arrived 
In  the  morning,  and  first  cut  off  a  patrol  of  ten 
men,  who  were  all  killed.  The  party  then 
came  up  with  the  guard  of  fifty  men,  whom  they 
swept  away  like  a  wafer.  He  then  advanced 
boldly  up  to  the  fort ;  but  the  English  army 
then  formed  in  line  of  battle,  to  the  extent  of 
two  thousand  men,  and,  marching  out  of  their 
intrenchments,  advanced  to  the  borders  of  the 
woods  where  Marin  was  in  ambush,  who  retired 
in  good  order,  losing  but  a  single  man.  lie 
returned  with  thirty-two  scalps.  "  lie  was 
unwilling  to  amuse  himself  making  prisoners, 
and  so  brought  in  but  one." 

The  following  Ltatement  is  made  by  Dr.  Fitch, 

who  refers  to  Dr.  Silliman  : 

John,  son  of  Cybrant  Quackcnboss  of  Albany,  was  im- 
pressed, "Nvitli  bis  team  and  wagon,  to  convoy  a  load  of  pro- 
visions to  Lake  George.  He  was  capt..red  by  a  formidable 
party  of  Indians,  who  previously  had  waylaid  sixteen  otherft. 
The  prisoners  were  taken  to  where  the  village  park  in 
Sandy  Hill  is  now  situated,  but  which  was  then  a  secluded 
spot  in  the  woods.  Here  they  were  securely  tied  and  seated 
upon  the  trunk  of  a  fallen  tree,  with  two  or  three  Indians 
left  to  guard  them ;  Quackenboss  being  at  one  end,  and  a 


*  Jesuits  in  America — Father  Roubard.    Kip. 


11 


ir 


! 


152 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


soldier  named  McQinncss  being  next  to  him.  One  of  the 
savages  now  went  to  the  opposite  end  of  the  log,  and  delib- 
erately sank  his  tomahawk  into  the  head  of  the  man  there 
seated.  The  victim  fell  to  the  earth,  and  the  next  man 
shared  his  fate,  and  so  in  succe.ssion  the  rest,  until  it  came 
the  turn  of  McOinness.  lie,  with  the  suddenness  of  a  pan- 
ther, threw  himself  from  the  log,  in  an  endeavor  to  break 
his  bonds  —  but  in  vain.  Instantly,  on  every  side,  a  dozen 
tomahawks  were  uplifted  ;  but  the  poor  fellow,  lying  upon 
his  back  and  spinning  around  like  a  top,  thrust  his  murderer 
off  with  his  feet,  till,  hacked  and  mangled,  his  efforts  became 
more  feeble,  when  a  blow  was  aimed  at  his  head,  and  all 
was  over.  The  teamster  now  only  remained.  Already  the 
fatal  hatchet  was  raised  for  the  last  and  final  stroke,  when 
the  arm  by  which  it  was  wielded  was  suddenly  caught  aside 
by  a  squaw,  who  exclaimed :  "  You  shan't  kill  him.  lie's 
no  fighter.  lie's  my  dog."  He  was  unbound  and  taken  in 
charge  by  his  Indian  mistress,  and  the  party  started  off  for 
Canada.  He  was  shortly  after  purchased  from  the  Indians 
and  brought  to  Montreal.  Desiring  to  communicate  with 
his  family,  he  gave  a  letter  in  charge  of  a  trusty  Indian, 
who  brought  it  as  near  Fort  Edward  as  he  dare  venture, 
and  here,  making  a  slit  in  the  bark  of  a  tree  beside  a  fre- 
quented path,  inserted  the  end  of  the  letter  therein.  It  was 
speedily  discovered  and  forwarded  to  its  destination. 

From  Ms  .ccphao,  Jacob  Quackenboss,  Schaghticoke. 

25th.  Lieut.  Corbierie,  with  a  force  of  iiftv 
Canadians  and  three  Imndred  Ottawas,  lay  in 
ambush,  above  Sabbath-day  point,  all  day  and 
all  night.  At  break  of  day  they  discovered  a 
body  of  three  hundred  English  in  twenty-two 
barges,  who  had  left  Fort  William  Henry  the 
night  before.     They  were  under  the  direction 


LAKE   CUAMPLAIN. 


153 


of  Col.  Joliii  Parker  and  eleven  officers.  Parker 
had  succeeded  Col.  Schuyler  in  command  of  the 
Kew  Jersey  regiment,  Schuyler  having  been 
taken  prisoner  at  the  Oswego  surrender.  The 
engagement  was  commenced  with  great  reso- 
lution on  Loth  sides,  but  the  French  and 
Indians,  being  in  their  frail  canoes,  could 
have  no  reasonable  hope  of  victory  except 
by  boarding;  but  the  English  no  sooner  saw 
them  at  hand,  than  terror  caused  them  even 
to  drop  their  arms.  "  It  ceased  to  be  a 
conflict,  and  became  only  a  flight."  In  an 
instant  they  were  seen  pulling  in  the  greatest 
haste  for  the  bank,  while  some,  to  reach  there 
sooner,  threw  themselves  into  the  water  for  the 
purpose  of  swimming ;  but  all  in  vain.*  The 
speed  of  the  rowers  could  not  in  any  way 
approach  the  swiftness  of  a  bark  canoe.  The 
latter  sails,  or  rather  flies,  over  the  water  with 
the  velocity  of  the  arrow.  The  English  were, 
therefore,  almost  immediately  overtaken.  In 
the  first  heat  of  the  conflict  all  were  massacred 
without  mercy.  Those  who  had  gained  the 
woods  had  no  better  fate.  The  woods  are  the 
natural  home  of  the  Indian,  and  thev  can  run 
there  with  the  swiftness  of  the  deer.     At  length 

*  Doc.  X,  page  591. 


154 


LAKE  GEORGE  AND 


the  Ottawas  tlioii<j;lit  of  making  prisoners.  The 
number  amounted  to  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
seven,  while  one  hundred  and  thirty-one  had  been 
killed  —  twelve  only  escaped.  On  the  French 
side  the  losses  w^ere  nothing,  only  one  Indian 
being  slightly  wounded.  At  night  the  Indians, 
having  freely  partaken  of  ardent  spirits,  cele- 
brated their  victory  with  one  of  those  ferocious 
orgies  at  which  the  heart  of  liumanity  sickens.* 

*  My  tent  had  been  placed  in  the  middle  of  the  encamp- 
ment of  the  Ottawas,  The  first  object  which  presented 
itself  to  my  eyes  on  arrivin<^  there,  was  a  large  firo,  while 
the  wooden  8i)it3  fixed  in  the  earth  gave  signs  of  a  foast. 
Indeed,  there  was  one  taking  place.  But,  O,  heaven,  what 
a  feast !  The  remains  of  the  body  of  an  Englishman  was 
there,  the  skin  stripped  off,  and  more  than  one-half  the  flesh 
gone.  A  moment  ah  r  I  perceived  these  inhnman  beings 
eat  with  famishing  avidity  of  this  human  flesh.  I  saw  them 
taking  up  this  detestable  broth  in  large  spoons,  and  api)a- 
rently  without  being  able  to  satisfy  themselves  with  it.  They 
informed  me  that  they  had  prepared  themselves  for  this 
feast  by  drinking  from  skulls  filled  with  human  blood,  while 
their  smeared  faces  and  stained  lips  gave  evidence  of  the 
truth  of  the  story.  What  rendered  it  more  sad  was,  that 
they  had  placed  very  near  them  some  ten  Englishmen  to  be 
spectators  of  their  infamous  repast.  I  thought  by  making 
some  mild  representation  to  these  inhuman  monsters  I 
might  gain  some  hold  upon  them.  But  I  was  only  flatter- 
ing myself.  A  young,  man  with  a  resolute  air  took  up  the 
conversation,  and  said  to  me,  in  bad  French :  "  You  have 
French  taste  ;  I  have  Indian  ;  this  food  is  good  for  mi;."  lie 
accompanied  his  remarks  by  the  ofllir  which  he  made  mo  of 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIN. 


155 


The  campaign  liaving  tliiis  opened  anspicionsly 
for  tlic  Frencli,  no  time  was  lost  in  embarking 
the  provisions  and  artillery.  The  distribution  of 
the  army  was  as  follows  :  Rigand,  the  same  who 
had  led  the  expedition  of  the  winter  before 
against  William  Henry,  occupied  the  head  of 
the  carrying  place  with  the  battalion  of  the 
marine,  the  militia  and  the  Indians.  The  regu- 
lars were  at  the  Water  Fall,  in  command  of 
Chevalier  De  Levi,  and  two  battalions  were  still 
at  Carillon  with  Bourlemaque.  Montcalm  was 
at  the  head  of  the  carrying  place,  superintend- 
ing the  transportation.  The  artillery,  tlie  muni- 
tions of  all  descriptions,  provisions  to  victual 


a  piece  of  the  broiled  Englishman.  I  could  make  no  reply 
to  this  argument,  which  was  so  worthy  of  a  savage,  and  it 
may  easily  be  imagined  with  what  horror  I  turned  from  the 
scene.  *  *  As  I  approached  the  English  prisoners,  one  of 
their  number,  by  whose  military  decorations  I  recogni/x'd 
an  olficer,  arrested  my  attention.  My  i)urpose  was  imme- 
diately formed  to  purchase  him,  and  thus  to  secure  for  him 
both  his  liberty  and  his  life.  With  this  view  I  approached 
an  aged  Ottawa,  believing,  that  the  chill  of  age  having 
moderated  his  ferocity,  I  should  fmd  him  more  favorable  to 
my  designs.  I  extended  to  him  my  hand,  saluting  him 
politely,  in  the  hope  of  gaining  him  to  me  by  kindness  of 
manner.  But  it  was  not  a  man  with  whom  I  was  dealing. 
It  was  something  worse  than  a  ferocious  beast,  who  was  not 
to  be  softened  by  these  caresst«.  "  No  "  said  he,  in  a  thun- 
dering and  menacing  tone,  "  No,  I  do  not  at  aJl  wish  your 


i  i 


f'il! 


^'1 

i! 

\ 

i  ;      1 
>        1 

*■    1 

150 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


the  army  for  a  monfli,  two  hundred  and  fifty 
bateaux  and  two  hundred  canoes,  were  brouglit 
over  l)y  men's  labor,  without  cither  oxen  or 
liorses,  and  in  the  hist  days  entire  brigades, 
headed  by  their  lieutenant-colonels,  relieved  each 
other  at  this  work.  As  the  number  of  boats  was 
not  sufHcient  for  the  passage  of  the  entire  army, 
and  besides  it  was  necessary  that  the  forest,  as 
well  as  the  landing,  should  be  reconnoitered,  the 
Marquis  arranged  to  move  a  body  of  two  thou- 
sand troops  and  a  portion  of  the  Indians  by 
land,  in  command  of  De  Levi,  and  under  the 
guidance  of  Kanactagon,  a  celebrated  Iroquois 
hunter.     Their  orders  were  to  march  two  days 


favors.  Begone."  I  did  not  think  it  necessi  ry  to  wait  till 
he  should  repeat  a  compliment  of  this  kind.  I  obeyed  him. 
*  *  *  Next  morning  on  awakening  I  supposed  that 
no  vestige  of  the  repast  of  the  previous  evening  would 
remain  about  my  tent.  I  flattered  myself  that,  the  fumes 
of 'their  liquor  being  dissipated,  and  the  excitement  insep- 
arable to  action  having  passed  off,  their  spirits  would  have 
become  more  settled,  and  their  hearts  more  human.  But  I 
was  acquainted  with  neither  the  genius  nor  the  taste  of  the 
Ottawas.  It  was  through  choice,  through  delicacy,  through 
daintiness,  that  they  nourished  themselves  with  human 
flesh.  Since  the  earliest  dawn  they  had  done  nothing  but 
recommence  their  execrable  cookery,  and  now  were  waiting 
w^tli  anxiety  for  the  desired  moment  when  they  should  be 
able  to  glut  their  more  than  canine  appetite  by  devouring 
the  sad  relics  of  the  body  of  their  enemy.    Roiihard. 


LAKE  CIIAMPLAIN. 


157 


in  atlvanoc  of  tlic  reniaindor  of  tlie  ami}',  in  order 
to  arrive  sinudtaucouslj  at  the  bay  of  Gaiioiis- 
kie.* 

27tli.  Montcalm  held  a  general  council  of  the 
Indians,  at  which  the  nations  took  their  places 
according  to  their  rank,  when  he  presented  to 
them,  in  the  King's  name,  the  great  nnion  belt 
of  six  thousand  beads,  to  bind  all  the  tribes  to 
each  other  and  to  him,  so  that  they  might  act 
together,  and  not  quit  him  until  the  close  of  the 
expedition. 

29th.  Dq  Levi  moved  off  with  his  division  at 
night,  and  encamped  about  half  a  league  beyond 
the  portage,  at  a  place  called  the  "  Burnt  Camp," 
on  the  western  shore  of  Lake  George.  This 
detachment  was  composed  of  twelve  companies 
of  regulars ;  two  of  the  marine,  La  Cornc's,  Vas- 
saur's,  and  Repentigny's  and  Villieur's  regiments 
of  Canadians,  and  six  hundred  Indians.  On  the 
30th,  in  the  morning,  the  detachment  left  the 
Burnt. Camp  without  tents,  kettles  or  equipage, 
Yillieur's  volunteers  and  some  Indians  forming 
the  vanguard,  the  regulars  in  the  center  and  the 
Canadians  and  the  rest  of  the  Indians  marching 
as  flankers.  The  same  day  the  brigades  of  La 
Reine  and  La  Sarre  occupied  the  Burnt  Camp, 


*  North-west  bay. 


14 


158 


LAKE   GKOliUK   AND 


I    ^ 


♦i  ■ 


rsS 


II  ! 


"vvliile  the  troops  under  "Boiirleniaquc  encamped 
at  the  head  of  the  Portaf^e. 

On  Sunday  tlie  31st,  the  Indians  who  wore  to 
go  by  water  set  out  at  nij^ht,  under  command 
of  St.  Luc,  accompanied  by  Marin,  Neverville, 
Langhide,  Laplante  and  Ilerbin,  and  moved 
to  a  point  above  "  Isle  a  la  Barque^^'^  wliere 
they  hmded  and  encamped.  Tliere  they  saw 
the  proofs  of  tlie  naval  victory  they  had  gained 
over  Parker,  in  the  abandoned  English  boats, 
which,  after  having  for  a  long  time  been  the 
sport  of  tlie  winds  and  wa-ves,  had  at  last  been 
thrown  upon  the  shore,  and  also  in  the  great 
number  of  the  bodies  of  the  English  extended 
on  the  banks  or  scattered  through  the  woods, 
some  cut  to  j^ieces  and  all  mutilated  in  the  most 
frightful  manner.  The  place  assigned  for  the 
camp  was  the  side  of  a  hill  covered  with  bram- 
bles and  the  haunt  of  a  prodigious  number  of 
rattlesnakes,  which  the  Indians  hunted  out  and 
caught. 

August  1.  At  two  o'clock  p.  m.,  the  army 
embarked  in  two  hundred  and  fifty  bateaux  and 
set  sail  in  the  following  order :  A  pontoon,  con- 
Bisting  of  two  boats  united  together  by  a  plat- 
form, and  mounted  with  a  twelve-pounder,  the 


*Odoll  Island,  near  Sabbath-day  Point. 


LAKE   ClIAMI'LAIN. 


159 


regulars,  tlic  militia,  the  artillery,  Avitli  a  brig- 
ade of  Royal  Iloiisilloii  ha  an  escort,  the  provis- 
ions, manned  by  the  (laspc  brigade,  the  iield 
hospital,  and  lastly  tlie  rear  guard.  The  guard 
left  at  Carillon  comprised  two  hundred  men, 
under  the  orders  of  Captain  Dahpiier,  of  the 
grenadiers,  fifty  men  in  possession  of  a  redoubt 
at  the  falls,  erected  in  the  middle  of  the  rapid, 
and  a  hundred  and  fifty  men  at  the  head  of  the 
carrying  jdace  where  there  was  a  supply  of  pro- 
visions. Halted  at  five  o'clock,  at  the  point 
where  the  Indians  had  encamped.  These  last 
who  lay  waiting  now  took  the  lead,  and  the  four 
hundred  boats,  covering  the  waters  from  shore  to 
shore,  swept  majestically  up  the  lake,  until,  per- 
ceiving upon  the  mountain  the  three  fires  placed 
in  the  form  of  a  triangle,  which  De  Levi  had 
lit  as  a  signal,  at  three  o'clock  a.  m.  they 
landed  at  Ganouskie  Bay,*  to  the  left  of  the 
land  detachment,  and  proceeded  to  cook  their 
breakfast.  The  Chevalier  had  arrived  at  four 
o'clock  of  the  afternoon  previous,  after  a  march 
which  the  excessive  heat,  the  continual  moun- 
tains, the  fallen  trees,  and  the  necessity  of  carry- 
ing every  thing  on  the  shoulders,  had  rendered 
fatiguing  even  to  the  Indians.     At  ten  o'clock 


*  Bolton  Landing. 


I   ,( 


IT 


160 


LAKE   GEOBOE   AND 


I       I 


illl 


I         ! 


A.  M.  T)e  Levi  rcsnnictl  liis  march  and  proceeded 
about  three  loa«;ncs  to  (treat  Sandy  Hay,*  and 
went  immediately  to  reconnoiter  tlic  environs 
of  tlie  fort,  its  position  and  tlie  proper  phice  to 
land  the  artillery.  Toward  noon  the  army  re- 
emharkcd  and  j)ro('eeded  leisurely,  to  enable 
the  pontoons  with  the  artillery  to  keep  np.  At 
evening  they  reached  the  same  bay  where  the 
land  troops  had  arrived,  but  hidden  by  a  point 
of  land  from  the  view  of  the  English  fort.  A 
little  incident  which  occurred  here  was  the  i)re- 
lude  of  the  siege  ;  about  eight  o'clock  two  l)oats 
sent  out  from  the  fort  appeared  on  the  lake,  and 
Bailed  along  with  an  easy  assurance  and  tran- 
quillity which  little  betokened  the  scent  of  dan- 
ger. The  news  was  at  once  imparted  to  the 
Indians,  and  the  preparations  to  receive  them 
were  made  with  promptness  and  in  admirable 
silence.  One  of  the  barges  had  a  tent  stretched 
over  it  which  formed  a  kind  of  dark  object  in 
the  air,  easily  discovered  by  the  light  of  the 
stars.  Curious  to  investigate  what  it  could  be, 
the  English  steered  directly  toward  this  spot. 
Slight  chance  of  escape  had  they,  as  to  choose  that 
course  was  to  rush  on  death.     At  this  juncture 


*  Beyond  the  old  Caldwell  Manor  House,  now  known  as 
Shaw's  Bay.  . 


LAKE   CHAMPLAIN. 


ICl 


a  fiheop,  in  a  provisiijii  ])oat,  liai)pciicil  to  bleat, 
and  disclosed  the  ambush.  Innnediately  tho 
EiiLclinh  boats  turned  about  and  made  toward 
the  opposite  ^hore,  using  their  oars  to  the  utmost 
to  save  themselves  by  means  of  the  darkness 
and  the  woods.  Tiiis  maneuver  was  inunedi- 
ately  seen.  Twelve  hundred  savages  were  at 
once  in  motion  and  flew  to  the  pursuit,  with 
cries  ecpnilly  frightful  by  their  continuance  as 
by  their  numbers;  nevertheless,  both  sides 
seemed  to  be  backward,  as  Hot  a  single  shot 
was  discharged.  The  pursuers,  not  having  had 
time  to  form,  feared  to  draw  the  lire  upon  them- 
selves, besides  they  wished  to  take  prisoners. 
The  fugitives  employed  their  arms  more  use- 
fully in  accelerating  their  flight.  They  had 
almost  reached  the  opposite  shore  when  the 
Indians,  who  perceived  that  their  prey  was 
escaping,  flred,  and  the  English,  pressed  almost 
too  close  by  the  foremost  canoes,  M'cre  obliged 
to  reti'rn  it.  Then  followed  a  fearful  silence, 
succeeding  to  all  this  nproar.  The  aft'air  ter- 
minated in  a  chief  of  the  Xepistingue  tribe 
being  killed,  and  one  other  M'oundcd.  Three 
Englishmen  were  taken  prisoners,  with  their 
boats,   the    rest   were    scattered    through    the 

woods. 

14*' 


1 


1G2 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


iS'll 


Gen.  Webb*  was  now  in  command  of  the 
Eiiglisli  forces  in  Northern  New  York,  with  his 
head-qnarters  at  Fort  Edward.  IIu  visited 
Lake  George  the  last  of  July,  under  tlie  escort 
of  Major  Israel  Putnam,  with  two  liundred 
men.  July  31st.  Putnam,  witli  eighteen  men, 
in  three  boats,  went  down  the  lake  on  a  reeon- 
noisance,  but  had  only  proceeded  twelve  miles 
when  he  discovered  an  advanced  party  of  the 
enemy  encamped  upon  an  island,  when  he  with- 
drew.    The  next  morninij   Webb   returned  to 


*  Lieut.-General  (Iloaven  save  the  mark  !)  Daniel  Webb 
was  ensign  of  the  Cold  Stream  Quarda.  lie  succeeded  Col. 
Dunbar  in  theconimand  of  the  Forty-eighth  Foot,  after  Dunbar 
was  superseded  for  his  cowardice  at  Braddock's  defeat,  and 
arrived  at  New  York  from  England,  7th  June,  1756,  to 
relieve  Gen.  Shirley,  In  succeeding  to  Dunbar's  regiment, 
he  also  inherited  that  officer's  disposition  to  take  to  flight  at 
the  appearance  of  danger,  for,  being  dispatched,  in  1756, 
with  a  considerable  force  to  the  relief  of  Oswego,  as  soon  aS 
he  got  to  the  carrying  place,  now  Home,  ho  became  so 
alarmed  at  hearing  of  the  fall  of  the  place  he  was  sent  to 
relieve,  that  he  filled  Wood  cieek  with  trees  to  prevent  the 
approach  of  an  invisible  enemy.  Strange  that  he  should 
be  again  put  in  any  position  of  responsibility  ;  yet  next  year 
ho  was  in  command  of  the  northern  frontier,  and  shamefully 
abandoned  Col.  Monroe  at  For*^^  William  Henry,  though  at 
the  head  of  4,000  men.  In  consequence  he  was  ordered 
home,  but  in  some  inexplicable  way  he  vas  protected  from 
censure     Doc.  x,  page  574. 


LAKE   CIIAMrLAIN. 


163 


Fort  Edward  with  his  escort,  and  dispatched 
Col.  Monroe  with  his  regiment  to  re-enfbrcc  and 
coniniand  the  garrison,  of  whom  four  luindred 
and  fifty  were  in  the  fort,  and  the  remainder, 
seventeen  hundred,  were  posted  in  the  intrenched 
camp,  wdiich,  for  all  practical  purposes,  was 
much  the  better  fort  of  the  two.  AV^ebb  also 
immediately  sent  expresses  to  the  several  Gov- 
ernors, with  a  requisition  to  call  out  the  militia. 
The  order  was  promptly  obeyed.  All  the  Xew 
York  militia  north  of  the  Highlands  were 
immediately  put  in  motion.  In  Connecticut 
every  fourth  man  was  drafted.  In  K^cw  Jersey 
four  thousand  were  assembled ;  and  in  every 
direction  troops  were  organizing  and  marching 
toward  Fort  Edward,  but,  alas,  too  late  to  be 
of  any  avail.* 

Sir  William  Johnson  was  holding  an  import- 
ant council  with  the  Cherokees  at  his  house 
when  the  news  arrived  of  the  approach  of 
Montcalm.  He  abruptly  broke  up  the  confer- 
ence, and  hastily  collecting  M'hat  militia  and 
Indians  he  could,  started,  and  arrived  two  days 
after  at  Fort  Edward.  On  the  8th  he  obtained 
from  Webb  permission  to  march  to  the  aid  of 
t'.3  beleaguered  garrison.  Putnam  and  his 
rangers,  and  most  of  the  provincial  regiments, 


*  Fitch. 


I 


i 


164 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


promptly  volunteered ;  but  they  had  scarcely 
bcijun  their  inarch  when  the  order  was  counter- 
manded,  and  they  were  ordered  back  to  their 
posts.* 

Tlie  French  troops  having  all  landed  at  Great 
Sandy  Bay,  except  the  St.  Oui*s  brigade  attached 
to  the  artillery,  and  those  detailed  to  guard  the 
bateaux  and  provisions,  all  under  the  command 
of  Lieut.-Col.  Privat,  they  arranged  themselves 
in  order  of  battle. 

At  two  o'clock  A.  M.,  August  3d,  the  English 
who  had  had  their  camp  to  the  left  of  the  fort, 
broke  up  and  retired  into  the  intrenchments  on 
the  right,  on  the  site  of  Fort  George.  The  same 
day,  at  dawn,  the  French  army  moved  in  three 
columns.  De  Levi  led  the  advance  with  his  de- 
tachment and  the  Indians,  Montcalm  with  the 
brigades  followed  in  column  by  regiments. 
Kigund  was  on  the  right  with  the  Canadians, 
and  Bourlemaque  on  the  left.  Sheltered  by  the 
woods  De  Levi  was  enabled  to  pass  the  fort  un- 
molested, and  at  ten  o'clock  a.  m.  took  up  a 
position  on  the  road  leading  to  Fort  Edward. 
The  Royal  Rousillon  Brigade  was  posted  on  the 
crestf  of  a  ravine,  which  is  opposite  the  fort, 

*  Stone's  Life  of  Johnson. 

j  To  the  left  of  the  plank-road,  on  the  north  side  of  the 
ravine,  opposite  and  north  of  the  court-house. 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIN. 


165 


where  it  remained  an  hour  in  order  of  battle, 
and  received  orders  to  join  the  army  on  a  pla- 
teau* be^'ond  some  hei<::hts  to  the  left  of  the  fort, 
where  all  the  troops  remained  until  five  o'clock 
in  the  evening,  during  which  time  the  fort  was 
reconnoitered  as  well  as  the  intrenched  camp, 
which  appeared  too  strong  to  be  captured  by  an 
assault.  The  Indians  were  intrusted  with  the 
duty  of  protecting  the  right,  which  extended  as 
far  as  the  French  mountain,  and  also  of  sending 
out  scouts  on  to  the  Fort  Edward  road.  They 
kept  lip  a  sharp  fire  on  the  fort;  repelled  several 
sorties,  killed  a  hundred  cattle,  and  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  sheep,  M'liich  l)elonged  to  the 
commissariat  of  the  fort,  and  also  captured  forty 
oxen,  and  twenty  horses,  which  were  taken  into 
the  French  camp.  The  camp  was  laid  out  by 
Bourlemaque,  on  the  ground  occupied  in  the 
morning  by  the  Royal  Ilousillon  brigade,  the 
left  resting  on  the  cove,t  where  the  artillery 
was  to  land,  and  the  right  extending  over 
toward  the  mountain.  A  guard  of  fifty  men 
were  then  ordered  to  be  posted  in  the  cove,  with 
instructions  to  light  fires  at  night-fall,  to  serve 
as  beacons  for  the  artillery  bateaux. 


It' 


*  Near  where  the  Luzerne  road  turns  off. 
f  Behind  the  court-house. 


i 
1 

ii 

1 

1 

■ 

i 

\ 

1 

1 

16G 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


I     :1 


Montcalm  Livonacked  with  the  rest  of  the 
army  on  the  Fort  Edward  road.  In  tlie  even- 
ing the  scouts  reported  that  a  hody  of  troops 
had  left  Fort  Edward*  and  were  coming  by  the 
mountains.  Meaiiwhile  the  English  were  vigor- 
ously at  work  fortifying  the  intrenched  camp, 

August  4.  In  the  morning  the  brigade  of 
La  Heine  came  to  encamp  on  the  right  of  tlie 
Royal  Ilonsillon,  while  two  brigades  of  militia 
took  their  posts  immediately  in  their  rear. 

Montcalm  having  arrived  at  the  camp  early 
in  the  morning,  went  to  reconnoiter  the  fort  with 
Bonrlemaque  and  the  officers  of  the  artillery, 
to  decide  where  the  tirst  battery  should  be  set 
lip.  At  noon,  De  Levi  was  directed  to  call  in 
his  detachment,  and  to  occupy  the  heights  on 
the  right,  but  at  some  distance  from  the  camp, 
with  the  militia  and  Indians,  and  to  have  scouts 
continually  on  the  Fort  Edward  road.  Tools 
were  distributed  and  orders  issued  for  the  con- 
struction of  fascines  and  gabions.  It  was  also 
judged  best  to  bring  the  artillery,  as  it  might 
be  wanted,  and  unload  it  at  night,  in  the  little 
cove  above  named.  The  command  of  the  siege 
was  given  to  Bonrlemaque.  His  detail  for  this 
purpose  consisted  of  seven  regiments,  and  the  St. 


*  Sir  Wm.  Johnson's  command,  afterward  recalled. 


LAKE   CHAMPLAIN. 


167 


Ours  and  Gaspd  brigades.  De  Levi,  with  the 
five  remaining  Canadian  regiments,  and  the  In- 
dians, liad  tlie  duty  of  protecting  the  riglit  of. 
the  camp  and  the  Fort  Edward  road.  These 
arrangements  being  perfected,  JMontcahn  dis- 
patched a  summons  to  Cob  Monroe,  in  the  fol- 
lowinc:  terms : 

"Sir:  I  liave  arrived  -svitli  sufficient  force 
to  take  tlie  pbace  which  you  hold,  and  to  cut  oflf 
all  succor  which  can  reach  you  from  any  quar- 
ter. I  number  in  my  train  a  crowd  of  Indian 
tribes,  whom  the  least  ejffusion  of  blood  will 
enrage  to  an  extent  that  will  forever  prevent 
them  from  entertaining  anv  sentiments  of  mod- 
eration  or  clemency.  The  love  of  humanity  has, 
therefore,  induced  me  to  sunnnon  you  to  snr- 
render,  at  a  time  when  it  will  not  be  impossible 
for  ]ne  to  induce  tliem  to  agree  to  a  capitulation, 
honorable  to  you  and  useful  to  all. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  etc., 

"  Montcalm." 

The  bearer  of  this  was  M.  Fontebrane,  aid- 
de-camp  of  De  Levi.  lie  was  received  at  the 
fort  with  politeness.  The  following  answer  was 
returned  : 

"Monsieur:  I  am  obliged  to  you  for  the 
courteous  offer  you  have  made.  I  cannot 
accept  it.     I  have  little  fear  of  your  Indian 


I 


1 


1C8 


LAKE   GEORGE  AND 


forces,  and  I  have  under  my  orders  soldiers  who 
are  determined,  like  myself,  to  die  or  conquer. 
"  I  am,  etc., 

"  Col.  George  Monroe, 

"  Com.,  etc:' 

Tliis  answer  was  followed  hy  a  general  dis- 
charge of  the  artillery  from  the  fort. 

While  these  preliminaries  were  taking  place, 
the  Nepistingue  tribe  proceeded  with  the  funeral 
rites  of  their  chief,  who  had  been  killed  at  the 
boat  attack  on  tlie  first  evening  of  their  arrival. 
These  rites  were  celebrated  with  savage  pomp 
and  splendor.  The  dead  body  was  arrayed  in 
all  its  ornaments,  collars  of  porcelain,  silver 
bracelets,  pendants  for  the  ears  and  for  tlie  nose, 
and  magnificent  apparel  were  lavished  upon 
him.  Paint  and  vermilion  gave  the  counte- 
nance an  air  of  life.  They  had  not  been  forget- 
ful of  any  of  the  decorations  of  the  warrior.  A 
neck-piece,  bound  with  a  red  ribbon,  hung  neg- 
ligently upon  his  breast,  his  gun  rested  upon 
his  arm,  the  tomahawk  at  his  belt,  the  pipe  in 
his  mouth,  his  lance  in  his  hand,  and  the  kettle 
filled  with  provisions  at  his  side.  Clothed  in 
this  warlike  array,  they  seated  him  on  an  cjni- 
nence  covered  with  grass,  which  served  him  for 
his  bed  of  state.  The  Indians,  ranged  in  a 
circle  around  the  dead   body,  regarded  it   for 


LAKE    CIIAMPLAIN. 


169 


i 


Bome  moments  in  a  solemn  silence,  indicative  of 
grief.  This  was  broken  by  the  orator,  who 
pronounced  the  funeral  oration  for  the  dead. 
Then  succeeded  the  chants  and  dances  to  the 
sound  of  a  tabor  hung  around  with  little  bells. 
In  all  this  there  was  an  indescribable  air  of 
sadness,  which  agreed  well  with  the  melancholy 
ceremonial.  At  length  the  funeral  rites  were 
ended  by  the  interment  of  the  dead,  with  whom 
they  took  care  to  bury  a  suppl^y  of  provisions, 
for  fear,  without  doubt,  that  for  want  of  nour- 
ishment he  might  die  a  second  time.* 

At  eight  o'clock  r.  m.,  Bourlemaque  pro- 
ceeded with  450  workmen,  supported  by  a 
guard  of  300  regulars,  to  open  the  first  paral- 
lel within  700  yards  of  the  fort.  They  also 
commenced  two  l)atteries,  and  built  a  piece  of 
road  from  the  cove  to  the  "  tail  of  the  trench," 
on  which  to  move  up  the  guns.  The  artillery 
consisted  of  thirty-two  pieces.  Twelve  guns 
were  brought  around  that  night,  and  as  they 
passed  the  point  of  land  which  brought  them  in 
sight  of  the  fort,  they  took  care  to  salute  the 
same  by  a  general  discharge.  The  work  rapidly 
advanced  through  the  obstacles  presented  by 
the  soil,  the  trunks  of  trees  and  abatis,  which 


;'«!ta 


*  Jesuit  Missions. 


15 


170 


LAKE   GEORGE    AND 


required  the  employment  of  tlie  ax  and  saw, 
and  by  day-break  the  men  were  entirely  hidden, 
exeept  at  the  rinht  battery  where  the  work  had 
been  slower.  The  left  battery  was  480  feet 
from  the  tail  of  the  trendi,  and  the  second  bat- 
tery GOO  feet  from  the  first. 

During  the  day  the  English  fired  a  great  deal 
of  shell  and  shot.  A  soldier  of  the  Royal  Rou- 
sillon,  who  was  on  duty,  w-as  killed ;  and  at 
night-fall  they  lighted  large  fires  at  the 
intrenched  camp,  where  they  continued  indus- 
triously at  work. 

Aug.  5.  At  day-break  the  working  party  was 
dismissed,  and  a  force  of  200  men  put  on,  who 
perfected  the  trench.  The  s^'cU  and  shot  from 
the  fort  reaching  into  the  French  camp,  the 
brigades  were  moved  400  paces  to  the  rear."^ 

On  this  day  Gen.  Webb  had  sent  out  from 
Fort  Edward  three  couriers,  with  information, 
for  Col.  Monroe.  The  first  was  killed,  the  sec- 
ond captured,  the  third  saved  himself  by  his 
swiftness  in  running.  The  Indians  brought  in 
the  prisoner,  and  a  vest,  in  the  pocket  of  which 
was  a  hollow  musket  ball,  containing  a  letter  to 
Col.  Monroe.  It  announced,  in  substance,  that 
he  would  advance  to  crive  battle  to  the  French 


*  To  the  grounds  of  tho  Caldwell  Manor  House. 


LAKE   CHAMPLAIN. 


171 


army  as  soon  as  the  provincial  militia  arrived ; 
tliat,  considering  the  position  of  Fort  Edward, 
he  could  not  march  to  the  relief  of  Col.  Mon- 
roe, to  extricate  him,  nor  forward  to  him  any 
re-enforcements  until  the  expected  arrival  of  the 
militia,  to  whom  he  had  sent  orders  to  join  him 
forthwith ;  hut  should  they  arrive  too  late  to 
enable  him  to  advance  and  engage  the  French 
army,  the  commandant  should  look  to  obtaining 
the  best  conditions  possible.* 

Aug.  6.  The  first  or  left  battery,  consisting 
of  eight  pieces,  of  "which  three  ^vere  eighteen- 
pounders  and  one  nine-inch  mortar,  was 
unmasked,  and  discharged  several  rounds  con- 
secutively, afterward  it  fired  every  two  minutes. 
It  was  replied  to  with  spirit  from  the  fort. 


*  III  Do  Lanccy's  address  to  tlie  C  olonial  Assembly,  dated 
Sept.  2,  17.">7,  occurs  tlie  followiiiir  remark :  "  The  troops 
above  the  Ilighhmds  had  already  marched  in  conseqiienco 
of  my  orders,  and  many  had  proceeded  to  Fort  Edward  ; 
but  after  a  short  stay  Gen.  Webb  informed  me  that  all  the 
militia,  except  those  of  the  county  of  Albany,  had  deserted 
in  a  mutinous  manner.  I  did  all  I  could  to  stop  them,  but 
with  little  success.  This  step,  whether  arising  from  cow- 
ardice or  disgust,  or  whatever  other  motive,  deserves  a  very 
severe  animadversion,  more  especially  as  it  was  taken  at  a 
time  when  the  enemy  were  still  at  Fort  William  Henry, 
only  fourteen  miles  distant  from  Fort  Edward,  the  most 
advanced  post  we  had  in  that  quarter  of  the  country." 


H^ 


m 


172 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


1    i* 


The  guard  was  relieved  at  four  o'clock  v.  m., 
by  three  com[)anie8  of  grenadiers,  and  at  seven 
o'clock  three  hundred  night  workmen  came  on, 
who  perfected  the  parallel,  finished  the  second 
or  royal  battery,  which  consisted  of  two  eigh- 
teen, five  twelve,  one  eight,  two  seven  inch 
liowitzers,  and  a  six-inch  mortar,  and  proceeded 
to  run  a  trench  from  the  parallel,  three  hundred 
yards  in  length,  directly  toward  the  garden  of 
the  fort.  This  battery  threw  shot  in  an  acute 
angle  with  the  front  of  attack,  and  swept  the 
intrenched  camp  with  a  ricochet  iirc.  It  was 
not  possible  for  the  English  to  stir  out  without 
danijer.  An  Eni!;lishwoman  determined  to  go 
and  gather  some  vegetables  in  the  garden  con- 
tiguous to  the  trench.  She  was  s^liot  down  on 
the  spot  by  an  Indian  concealed  in  a  square  of 
cabbages.  Having  no  means  of  recovering  the 
body,  the  conqueror,  always  concealed,  remained 
sentinel  throughout  the  day,  and  at  night  took 
away  with  him  the  scalp.* 

The  Indians  were  delighted  with  the  noise  of 
the  great  guns  and  the  prodigious  echoes  which 
were  made  by  the  mountains.  They  were 
always  about  the  artillerymen,  whose  dexterity 
they  much  admired.     But  their  admiration  was 


*  Roubard. 


LAKE   CIIAIMrLAlN. 


173 


neither  idle  nor  witliout  its  use.  Some  even  de- 
termined to  become  gunners.  One,  Jifter  having 
sighted  the  cannon,  found  that  the  shot  struck 
the  very  angle  of  the  fort  which  had  been  as- 
signed to  him  as  a  mark.  But  he  declined  to 
repeat  the  experiment,  because,  having  reached, 
in  his  attem})t,  that  degree  of  perfection  to 
which  he  aspired,  he  did  not  wish  to  hazard  his 
reputation  in  a  second  trial,  ihit  their  chief 
cause  of  astonishment  was  the  covered'^'  ways. 
They  examined,  with  the  most  eager  curiosity, 
the  manner  in  which  the  French  grenadiers 
labored  to  perfect  those  works.  Instructed  by 
seeing,  they  shortly  began  to  exercise  their  own 
hands  in  the  practice.  They  might  be  seen, 
with  pick-axes,  marking  out  a  branch  of  the 
trench,  toward  the  portion  of  the  fort  which  was 
assigned  to  them  to  be  attacked.  They  pushed 
them  so  far  forward  that  they  were  shortly 
within  musket  shot. 

De  Yillieurs  profited  by  these  advances  to 
attack  the  outposts.  The  action  was  warm,  but 
the  English  were  driven  back. 


*"  Covert,"  hidden.  The  earth  is  thrown  up  toward  the 
enemy,  to  hide  the  view,  and  for  protection  from  the  can- 
non.   B. 

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LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


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On  tlie  niglit  of  the  Tth,  the  workmen  con- 
tinued the  trench  to  within  six  hundred  feet  of 
the  fort.  There  a  third  battery  was  commenced. 
The  guard  was  composed  of  three  companies  of 
grenadiers  and  seven  pickets.  At  'midnight, 
two  des'^.rters  fell  among  the  Indian  pickets, 
who  had  been  posted  on  their  bellies,  in  the 
garden  in  front  of  their  workmen.  The  night's 
work  brought  the  trench  to  a  swamp,  about  a 
hundred  yards  wide,  bordered  on  the  south  by 
an  acclivity,  which,  except  about  sixty  feet, 
slieltered  it  from  the  batteries  of  the  place.  In 
broad  daylight  the  sappers  applied  themselves 
to  this,  with  so  much  activity,  that  before  night 
a  road  of  round  sticks  and  hurdles  was  made, 
caj)able  of  bearing  artillerj'.  At  nine  o'clock 
A.  M.,  after  a  double  salute  from  the  batteries, 
Montcalm  sent  to  Monroe,  through  his  aid  De 
Bougainville,  the  letter  of  Gen.  "Webb,  which 
had  been  intercepted  two  days  before,  as  its 
perusal,  when  the  works  were  so  far  advanced, 
might  induce  him  to  surrender.  At  three 
o'clock  the  English  made  a  sortie,  with  500 
men,  to  open  the  Fort  Edward  road.  De  Yil- 
lieurs  marched  against  them,  with  the  Canadians 
and  Indians,  who  repulsed  and  drove  them  back 
into  the  intrenched  camp,  with  a  loss,  on  the  Eng- 
lish side,  of  a  number  killed,  and  four  prisoners. 


LAKE   CriAMTLATN. 


175 


8tli.  Tho  workino*  party  -were  relieved  at 
day -break,  by  three  hundred  other  men,  ^vllO 
proceeded  to  finish  the  nev,  battery,  and  con- 
struct a  road  througli  tlie  slope  that  leads  into 
the  gardens.  At  three  o'clock  tho  English 
turned  out,  under  arms,  to  repel  a  supposed 
attack.  The  scouts  reported  to  Montcalm  that 
relief  was  approaching  from  tho  southern  road, 
lie  immediately  dispatched  three  companies  of 
grenadiers  to  De  Levi,  and  followed  with  two 
brigades.  Bourlemaque  ordered  two  guns  to 
bear  on  the  garden  and  plateau,  and  to  lire,  at 
an  elevation,  over  the  fort,  into  the  intrenched 
camp,  -where  the  troops  were  observed  in  line 
of  battle.  The  relief  proved  to  be  a  false  report, 
and  at  five  p.*m.  the  troops  returned  to  camp. 
At  seven  o'clock  the  guard  of  the  trench  were 
relieved,  and  at  eight  arrived  a  party  of  550 
working  men,  100  for  the  battery,  and  the  re- 
mainder for  the  bridge,  and  to  take  post  on  tho 
exterior  crest  of  the  ravine  in  the  garden.  Here 
they  opened  a  parallel,  which  was  designed  for 
the  fourth  battery,  and,  also,  l)y  its  prolongation, 
to  surround  the  fort  and  cut  it  off  from  the  in- 
trenched camp.  The  fire  from  the  fort,  that  night, 
was  brisk,  and  resulted  in  two  being  wounded. 
At  day-break  the  parallel  was  sufficiently  com- 
plete to  afford  a  secure  lodgment  for  the  men. 


I     1    .   i    1: 


ir' 


176 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


Seeing  the  works  so  far  advaTiccd,  on  tlie 
morning  of  the  9th,  Col.  Monroe  lioisted  the 
white  flag,  and  8  a.  m.  sent  Lieut.-Colonel  Jolm 
Young*  to  negotiate  the  articles  of  capitulation. 
Montcalm,  having  agreed  with  him  upon  the 
principal  terms,  refused  to  proceed  further  until 
he  could  ha"  a  general  council  of  the  Indian 
chiefs,  which  he  fortliwith  called,  and  to  whom 
he  explained  the  conditions  Avhereon  the  English 
were  offering  to  surrender,  and  the  terms  he 
was  resolved  to  grant  them,  and  demanded  of 
them  their  consent,  and  also  whether  they 
could  answer  for  their  young  men  not  violating 
the  terms.  The  chiefs  unanimously  assured 
him  that  they  approved  of  all  he  would  do,  and 
would  prevent  their  young  men  from  commit- 
ting any  disorder. 

The  following  were  the  articles  of  capitula- 
tion : 

1.  The  garrison  of  Fort  William  Henry  shall 
march  out  with  their  arms  and  their  baggage ; 
they  shall  proceed  to  Fort  Edward,  escorted 
by  a  detachment  of  French  and  some  oflicers 

*  Col.  Young  was  major  in  the  Royal  Americans.  On  tho 
reduction  of  Fort  William  Henry  he  was  shamefully  stripped 
and  plundered  by  the  Indians  ;  and  it  is  a  curious  fact  that 
lie  afterward  recognized  and  recovered  some  of  his  property, 
in  1759,  on  the  reduction  of  Quebec 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIN. 


177 


and  interpreters  attached  to  the  Indians,  and 
inarch  at  an  early  hour  on  the  morning  of  the 
10th.  They  shall  not  serve  again  in  eighteen 
months. 

2.  The  gate  of  the  fort  to  he  delivered  np  to 
the  troops  at  the  signing  of  the  capitulation, 
and  the  intrenched  camp  the  next  day  on  the 
4]ei)arLure  of  the  British  troops. 

3.  All  the  artillery,  stores  and  provisions  to 
be  given  up,  and  an  inventory  taken.  The  sick 
and  wounded  who  cannot  be  moved,  to  be  imde/ 
the  protection  of  the  Marquis  de  Montcalm. 
Provisions  to  be  issued  for  two  days  only. 

As  a  further  token  of  esteem,  on  account  of 
their  honorable  defense,  Monroe  was  granted  one 
field-piece,  a  six-pounder. 

Montcalm  also  directed  Bourgainville,  Lis 
aid,  who  conducted  the  capitulation,  to  have  all 
the  wine,  brandy,  rum  and  other  intoxicating 
liquors  in  the  public  stores  of  the  fort,  spilled, 
which  was  accordingly  done  before  the  evacua- 
tion. 

At  12  o'clock  M.  the  Englisli  troops,  arrayed 
in  beautiful  order,  marched  out  of  the  fort  with 
their  knapsacks  and  effects,  to  go  over  to  the 
intrenched  camp,  while  the  French  regiments 
of  the  trenches,  under  Bourlemaque,  advanced 
in  battle  array  to  take  possession.     At  the  same 


A  M 


I  T?  1 


!\ 


178 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


hour  a  cloud  seemed  passing  over  their  heads, 
and  looking  upward  they  discovered  that  the}'^ 
stood  beneath  the  wide  folds  of  the  standard-  of 
France. 

As  the  troops  left  the  parade,  they  passed  by 
the  French  army,  who  stood  to  their  arms, 
attentive  biit  silent  observers  of  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  vanquished,  failing  in  none  of  tha 
stipulated  honors,  and  offering  no  taunt  or 
insult,  in  their  success,  to  their  less  fortunate 
foes.* 

The  mr.rch  and  ceremony  were  not  marked 
by  any  (iontravention  of  the  laws  of  nations. 

Montcalm  sent,  according  to  the  agreement, 
a  detachment  of  three  hundred  troops,t  under 
command  of  a  lieutenant-colonel,  to  the  in- 
trenched camp  for  their  protection.  He  also 
ordered  the  officers  and  interpreters  attached  to 
the  Indians  to  remain  until  the  departure  of 
the  English. 

Boiirlemaque  took  possession  of  the  fort  with 
his  division,  and  stationed  guards  upon  the 
powder  magazines  aiid  the  provision  stores ;  the 
remainder  was  given  up  to  pillage.  The  Indi- 
ans made  no  delay.  During  the  military  cere- 
mony which  accompanied  the  taking  possession, 


*  Cooper,    f  Doc.  x,  p.  615. 


LAKE   CIIAMPLMN. 


179 


they  had  penetrated  into  the  fort,  in  crowds, 
tlirough  the  embrasures,  for  the  purpose  of 
piUage.  But  they  did  not  confine  tlieni- 
selves  to  this.  There  were  still  reniaihinij 
in  the  casemates  some  sick  persons,  whose 
condition  did  not  allow  them  to  follow  their 
countrymen  in  their  honorable  retrdat.  These 
were,  therefore,  their  first  victims  on  whom 
they  threw  themselves  without  pity,  and  sacri- 
ficed to  their  blood-thirstiness.* 

The  Indians  then  proceeded  to  the  intrenched 
camp,  and,  notwithstanding  all  the  precautions 
of  those  who  guarded  the  same,  got  in,  and 
wished  to  pillage  the  chests  of  the  officers.  The 
latter  opposed  this  proceeding,  and  a  serious 
disorder  was  threatened.  Montcalm  proceeded 
to  the  intrenchment,  and  found  some  of  the 
Indians  drunk  with  rum  obtained  from  tlie 
otticers.  lie  "  had  recourse  to  prayers,  menaces, 
caresses,  councils  with  the  chiefs,  and  interfer- 


*  Roubard  further  says :  "  I  wrs  a  witness  of  this 
spectacle.  I  saw  one  of  these  barbarians  come  forth  from 
the  casemates,  wliich  notliingbut  the  most  insatiate  avidity 
for  blood  could  have  induced  him  to  enter,  for  the  infected 
atmosphere  which  exhaled  from  it  was  unsupportablo.  Ho 
carried  in  his  hand  a  human  head,  from  whence  streams  of 
blood  were  flowing,  and  which  he  paraded  forth  as  if  it  had 
been  the  most  valuable  prize  he  had  been  able  to  seize." 


m 


[J 


180 


LAKE  OEOKGK  AND 


cnce  of  tlic  officers  and  interpreters,  h'Iio 
possessed  some  authority  over  these  barbarians, 
to  stop  and  restrain  tlieni."* 

Tlie  disorderly  conduct  being  abated,  Mont- 
cahn,  at  wine  o'clock  at  night,  returned  to  his 
(piarters.  This  was,  however,  only  a  slight 
introduction  of  the  tragedy  of  the  morrow. 
Notwithstanding  the  remonstrances  of  Mont- 
calm, the  English  furnished  the  Indians  M'itli 
rum  (on  which,  during  the  night,  several  of 
them  got  drunk),  on  the  supposition  that  by 
such  a  course  they  would  render  these  savages 
more  favorable  to  them.  But  they  might  as 
well  have  undertaken  to  tame  the  famished 
wild  beast.  Early  in  the  morning  they  began 
to  assemble  about  the  intrenchrnents,  demand- 
ing of  the  English,  goods,  ])rovisions,  in  a  word, 
whatever  their  greedy  eyes  i^erceived.  These 
demands  were  made  in  a  tone  which  announced 
that  a  thrust  of  the  spear  would  be  the  price 
of  a  refusal.  The  English  entertained  for  these 
Indians  an  inconceivable  terror.  They  undressed 
and  stripped  themselves  almost  to  nothing,  to 
purchase  their  lives  at  the  hands  of  these  in- 
human monsters.  But  this  compliance,  which 
should  have  softened  the  savage  heart,  only  ren- 


*  Doc.  X,  633. 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIN. 


181 


dered  them  more  exacting.  The  same  terror 
determined  the  Ens^lish  to  set  out  before  the 
escort  was  ready. 

The  Abnekas  of  Panonske,  in  Acadia,  chiimed 
to  have  experienced  from  the  Englisli  some 
ill-treatment,  whercl)}',  nnder  the  pretense  of 
making  a  treaty,  certain  of  tlieir  chiefs  had  been 
inveigled  into  a  fort  and  slain.  They  seized 
this  occasion  to  retaliate.  The  long  column  of 
English  had  S(;arcely  filed  out  from  their  in- 
trenchments  to  the  number  of  two  thousand 
two  hundred,  and  were  approaching  the  vista 
cut  through  the  trees  where  the  road  to  Fort 
Edward  entered  the  forest,  when  the  Indians 
uttered  their  dread  war-whoop,  and  "  woe  be  to 
those  who  closed  the  march,  or  to  the  stragglers 
whom  illness  or  any  other  reason  separated 
ever  so  little  from  the  main  body.  They  were 
as  good  as  dead,  and  tlieir  lifeless  bodies  soon 
strewed  the  ground  and  covered  the  circuit  of 
the  inti  crichments.'^  * 

The  English  troops,  in  place  of  meeting  them 
with  resolution,  and  defending  themselves  with 
their  arms,  were  seized  Avith  a  sudden  panic,  and 
fled  helter-skelter  toward  the  woodtj  or  toward 
the  French  tents,  then  to  the  *fort,  then  to  any 


%■'. 


*  Roubard. 


16 


I 


--m\ 


■M 


182 


LAKE   GEORGE   AST) 


place  whicli  promised  them  an  asylum,  throw- 
ing away  their  j^uns,  equipments  and  hafrgagc. 
The  great  number  of  women  whicli  accompanied 
the  garrison  increased  its  terror.*  This  butchery, 
wliicli,  at  first,  was  c  nly  the  work  of  some  few 
savages,  became  the  signal,  which  transformed 
them  into  so  many  ferocious  beasts.  They  dis- 
charged, right  and  left,  heavy  blows  with  their 
liatcliets,  on  all  those  who  came  within  their 
reach.  The  massacre  was,  however,  not  of  any 
duration,  nor  by  any  means  so  considerable  as 
so  much  fury  would  have  seemed  to  give  reason 
to.     It  amounted  to  abont  forty  or  fifty  men. 

The  French,  meanwhile,  M'ere  not  idle.  The 
detachment  of  three  hundred,  appointed  to 
protect  their  retreat,  arrived,  and  hastily  ar- 
ranged themselves  in  ordei  of  battle.  The 
Chevalier  De  Levi  ran  in  every  direction,  to 
where  the  tumult  was  the  thickest,  to  endeavor 
to  arrest  it,  and  periled  his  life,  at  the  hands  of 
the  savage  arms  raised  to  strike  at  him.  The 
French  and  Canadian  officers  imitated  his  ex- 
ample, with  a  zeal  worthy  of  the  humanity  of 
a  civilized  nation.  But  of  what  avail  were 
three  hundred  men,  and  a  few  officers,  against 
fifteen  hundred  infuriated  savages,  who  conld 

*Doc.  X,  G33. 


The 


LAKE   CIIAMl'LAIN. 


183 


not,  or  ^^onkl  not,  distln<5iiish  tlicni  from  tlio 
Eiiirlisli?  One  of  the  scr<;eantti,  who  had  op- 
posed liiniself  to  their  violence,  was  struck  to 
the  earth  hy  a  spear.  A  French  officer,  as  a 
reward  of  the  same  zeal,  received  a  severe 
wound,  whicli  hroutjlit  him  to  the  borders  of 
the  grave.  Besides,  in  the  moment  of  alarm, 
011,0  knew  scarcely  where  to  turn,  and  the  very 
measures  which  seemed  to  be  most  dictated  by 
prudence,  ended  in  disastrous  results.  Mont- 
calm, whose  camp  was  at  a  distance  from  the 
spot,  did  not  hear  at  first  of  what  was  going 
forward.  At  the  news  of  the  occurrence  ho 
speedily  repaired  to  the  spot,  and,  after  trying 
prayers,  menaces,  and  promises,  he  at  last  re- 
sorted to  force,  lie  wrested  the  nephew  of 
Col.  Young,  with  violence,  from  the  hands  of 
the  Indians,  but  his  deliverance  cost  the  lives 
cf  a  number  of  prisoners,  whom  the  Indians 
massacred   for   fear  of  a  similar  rescue.*     The 


*  A  French  ofTiror  informed  Father  Roabardthat  a  Huron 
had  at  that  time  au  infant  six  months  old,  wliose  death  was 
certain  if  he  did  not  hasten  to  its  relief.  The  good  father 
hastened  to  the  cabin  of  the  savaffc,  and  after  considerable 
entreaty  the  latter  was  induced  to  give  up  the  child,  on 
condition  that  lie  should  receive  back  a  scalp  of  an  enemy. 
"Departinc?  with  haste,"  says  Houbard,  "  to  the  camp  of  tho 
Abnakis,  1  demanded  of  the  first  person  1  met  whether  ho 


!  ii 

'•  ■  if'*' 


■SI'*'' 


(       I 


184 


LAKE   OKOROE   AND 


Indians  then  proceeded  to  take  prisoners,  and 
the  disorder  ^vas  on  the  increase,  when  some 
one  liapj)ily  tlion<^ht  of  ordering  tlie  English 
to  increase  tlieir  speed,  which  was  done. 
The  Indians,  satisfied  with  tlieir  prizes,  began 
to  retire,  the  remaining  few  were  easily  dis- 
persed, and  the  English,  withont  further  inter- 
ruption, to.itinued  their  march  to  Fort  Edward. 
They  arrived  there  at  first  to  the  number  of 
three  or  four  hundred,  and  for  two  or  tii 'oo 
days  parties  straggled  in,  being  guided  by  the 
sound  of  the  cannon,  which  were  fired  at  inter- 
vals for  that  purpose.  !Many  of  the  English 
had  found  safety  in  the  fort  or  in  the  tents  of 


had  any  scalps,  and  if  ho  wished  to  do  a  favor  to  gratify 
me.  IIo  untied 'his  pouch,  and  p^ave  mo  my  choice.  I  car- 
ried it  off  in  triumpli,  followed  by  a  crowd  'rl  Fii-nch  and 
Canadians,  and  in  a  moment  had  rejoined  my  Huron.  Seo, 
said  I,  your  payment.  You  are  right,  he  replied  ;  it  is, 
indeed,  an  English  scalp,  for  it  is  red.  I  'mmediately  took 
the  unfortunate  little  being  in  my  bauds,  and,  as  it  was 
almost  naked,  I  wrapped  it  in  my  robe,  but  my  hands  being 
unaccustomed  to  this  business,  the  poor  infant  uttered  its 
cries,  which  taught  me  my  own  awkwardness  as  well  as 
its  sufferings.  I  arrived  at  the  fort,  and  at  the  sound  of  its 
feeble  cries  all  the  women  ran  toward  mo,  each  one  flatter- 
ing herself  with  the  hope  of  recovering  the  object  of  her 
maternal  tenderness.  They  eagerly  examined  it,  but  neither 
the  eyes  nor  the  heart  of  any  one  recognized  their  child. 


LAKE   CIIAMPLATN. 


185 


the  French.  The  same  day  ^[ontcahii  made 
tlie  Indians  surrender  about  lour  hundred  j)ris- 
oners.  The  majority  of  tlie  nations  gave  them 
up  to  liim  witli  the  «i;roate8t  respect  and  tlie  most 
am])le  apologies  on  the  part  of  the  chiefs,  stating 
they  had  no  sense,  etc.  The  wounded  were 
sent  to  Carillon.  lie  further  sent  a  message  to 
Vaudreuil,  at  Montreal,  that  the  nations  who 
were  unwilling  to  surrender  the  English  to 
liim,  had  gone  away,  contrary  to  usage,  without 
taking  leave,  and  carrying  their  prisoners  with 
them. 

Montcalm  detained  the  men  and  otiicers  for 
three  days.  On  the  llth  he  dispatched  Lieiit. 
Wm.   Hamilton,   under   the    escort    of    thirty 

Thoy  therefore  retired  a<jfain  to  one  side  to  give  free  courso 
to  their  lamentations  and  complaints.  Proceeding  to  tho 
camp,  a  shrill  and  animated  cry  suddenly  struck  my  ears. 
Was  it  of  grief,  or  was  it  of  joy  ?  It  was  all  this,  and  much 
more,  for  it  was  that  of  the  mother,  who,  from  a  distance, 
had  recognized  her  child,  so  keen  are  the  eyes  of  maternal 
love.  She  ran  with  a  precipitation  which  showed  that  this 
was  indeed  her  child. .  She  snatched  it  with  an  eagerness 
which  seemed  as  if  she  feared  that  some  one  might  a  second 
time  deprive  her  of  it.  It  is  easy  to  imagine  to  what  trans- 
ports of  joy  she  abandoned  h'^rsolf,  particularly  when  sho 
was  assured  of  the  life  and  freedom  of  her  husband,  to 
whom  she  thought  that  she  had  bid  a  final  adicn.  Nothing 
was  wanting  to  complet(!  their  happiness  but  their  reunion, 
and  this  I  thought  should  be  the  perfection  of  my  work." 
10* 


il 


IfiWliS 


mmimmmm 


186 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


grenadiers,  commanded  by  Lieut.  Saiivonier,  of 
the  La  Sarre  regiment,  accompanied  by  La 
Corne,  Lieut.  "Marin  and  two  interpreters,  with 
a  couple  of  letters  to  Gen.  Webb  and  Lord 
Loudon. 

Tlie  followinfij  dav,  15th,  tlie  Eno;lish  and  all 
the  officers  recovered  from  the  Indians  set  out, 
escorted  by  250  men  under  tlie  command  of 
Captain  Poulharics  of  the  Rousillon  grenadiers, 
who  delivered  them  up  to  a  similar  detachment 
Bent  for  that  purpose  from  Fort  Edward  at  Half- 
way brook  ;  these  troops  took  with  them  the 
cannon  which  had  been  allowed  to  Monroe  by 
the  articles  of  capitulation. 

Meanwhile  De  Levi  had  removed  his  camp 
from  the  hill-side  around  to  the  front  of  the 
intrenched  camp  on  the  Fort  Edward  road. 
He  had  the  brigade  of  La  Keine,  four  brigades 
of  Canadians  and  the  independent  companies. 
With  the  remainder  of  the  army  Montcalm  pro- 
ceeded to  demolish  the  fort  and  to  remove  the 
stores.  Tliese  included  seventeen  cannon,  of 
which  eight  were  brass,  seventeen  swivels, 
35,835  lbs.  powder,  2,522  shot,  1,400  lbs.  balls, 
6  chests  of  fire-works,  grape-shot  of  various 
caliber,  and  3,000  barrels  of  flour  and  pork. 

A  thousand  men  were  employed  in  transport- 
ing these  immense  stores  of  provisions  and  w-ar 


LAKE   CHAMrLAIN. 


187 


materials  to  the  boats,  and  twelve  hundred  were 
engaged  in  destroying  the  fort.  Tlie  Indians 
had  all  disappeared.  Tlie  fort  was  entirely 
demolished  and  even  the  ruins  were  consumed 
hy  fire.  It  was  only  during  the  hurning  that 
the  jjreatness  of  the  Eno;lish  loss  became  evident. 
The  casemates  and  the  subterranean  passages 
were  found  to  be  filled  with  dead  bodies,  which, 
for  several  days,  furnished  new  aliment  for  the 
flames.  The  French  loss  was  twenty-one  killed 
and  about  twenty-five  wounded.  The  English 
lost  between  three  and  four  hundred. 
,.  Montcalm,  not  having  boats  enough  for  the 
entire  army,  on  the  IGth  ordered  the  Rousillon 
and  Bevu  regiments  to  encamp  on  Fourteen 
Mile  island,  and  left  at  noon  with  the  rest  of 
the  troops.  As  they  left  the  shore  Putnam,  who, 
with  his  rangers,  had  been  appointed  to  watch 
the  enemy's  movements,  approached  the  scene 
of  slau<»"hter.  Not  a  livino;  thincr  stood  on  the 
phun.  The  flash  of  French  bayonets  was  seen 
for  a  moment  in  the  distance,  and  then  silence 
and  solitude  fell  upon  the  forest.* 


*  About  five  years  ago,  in  excavatinj^  the  foundation  of 
Dr.  Cromwell's  dwelling',  on  the  jilank-road,  and  upon  what 
was  the  garden  of  tlie  fort,  lliirty-six  skulls  and  other  debris 
were  exhumed.   They  were  principally  women  and  children. 


& 


CHAPTER  IX. 

AbERCROMBIE'S  expedition  —  DE  HABECOURT  —  ROGERS  —  0UTKLA8  — 
NEW  YORK  REGIMENT  — DISTINGUISHED  OFFICERS  —  LORD  HOWE  — 
COJirOSITION  OF  THE  ARMT  —  APPEARANCE  ON  LAKE  GEORGE  — 
ARRANGEMENTS  OP  MONTCALM  —  THE  LANDING  —  LORD  UOWB 
KILLED  — THE  BATTLE  —  THE  RETREAT, 

N  July,  1757,  William  Pitt  became 
Prime  Minister  of  England.  lie 
"  knew  himself  to  be  called,  neither 
by  the  King,  nor  yet  by  the  aristoc- 
racy, but  by  the  voice  of  the  people."* 

In  December,  1757,  he  obtained  the  King's 
order  that  every  provincial  officer,  of  a  grade 
below  that  of  a  colonel,  should  have  equal  rank 
with  the  British,  according  to  the  date  of  their 
commission.  This  proceeding  removed  a  ground 
of  complaint,  which  had  always  caused  bad 
blood  between  the  officers  of  the  respective 
corps.  He  abandoned  the  idea  of  raising  money, 
by  the  absurd  mode  of  taxation,  in  the  Colonies, 
and  which  had  been  a  favorite  hobby  with  his 
predecessors  ;  and,  in  a  circular  letter,  dated 
December  30th,  boldly  invited  them  to  raise  a3 

*  Bancroft. 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIN. 


189 


many  men  as  possible,  at  the  same  time  provid- 
ing for  tlieir  arms,  equipments,  ammunition, 
provisions,  and  artillery,  and  promised  that  the 
King  should  strongly  recommend  to  I*arlianient 
to  grant  to  them  a  proper  compensation.*  The 
colonies  reposed  undoubted  confidence  iu  the 
upright  designs  of  Pitt.  Hi?  respect  for  tlicir 
rights,  joined  to  the  prospect  of  making  a  linal 
conquest  of  Canada,  roused  iu  them  the  most 
fervid  zeal.  " . 

Great  suffering  exi^jted  at  this  time  in 
Canada.  They  were  nearly  cut  off  fjom  sup- 
plies from  France.  A  famine  existed,  and 
the  troops  were  farmed  out,  at  tlie  rate  of  a 
soldier  to  each  family.  Fifteen  liu^Mlred  horses 
were  purchased,  distributed,  and  killed  for  sub- 
sistence. In  the  month  of  January,  Major 
Robert  Rosrers  came  rovino;  into  the  neighbor- 
hood  of  Carillon,  ^with  a  detachment  of  seventy 
men.  The  artillery  opened  upon  him  and  drove 
him  away.  In  his  retreat,  he  burned  a  pile  of 
timber  and  charcoal,  took  a  wood-cutter  pris- 
oner, and  killed  eighteen  oxen  or  cows,  which 
were  found  in  the  woods,  and  served  to  subsist 
the  garrison.  Rogers  affixed  a  note  to  the  horn 
of  one  of  the  oxen,  in  the  following  words : 


i  I'f 


*  Pitt's  letter  to  the  go\  ^     ors.    Doc.  vii,  340. 


I 


190 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


ini 


•I 


"Sir;  I  R-a  obliged  to  you  for  the  ropoHQ,  you  liavo 
nllowcf'.  ic  to  take.  I  thank  you  for  the  fresh  meat  you 
have  B>  rt  me.  I  shall  take  care  of  my  prisoners.  Pre- 
sent n   '  comi)limpnts  to  the   Marquis  do  Montcalm. 

■Signed)        Roijkut  Kogers."    (Doc.  x,  837.) 

Feb.  28.  Sieui*  Montignoii  returned  from  a 
rccoTinoisancc  to  Fort  Lydius,  with  twenty-tlirce 
Englirili  scalps,  and  five  prisoners.* 

March  13.  Capt.  De  Ilebeconrt,  of  the  regi- 
ment of  La  Reine,  in  command  of  CariUon, 
dispatched  a  party  of  two  lumdred  men,  under 

'^'  General  Lyman  succeeded  Webb  in  the  command  of 
Fort  Edward.  Capt.  Little  was  posted  upon  a  tongue  of  land, 
with  a  file  of  soldiers,  to  protect  a  hundred  and  fifty  workmen 
who  were  obtaining  timber  for  the  use  of  the  fort.  Early 
one  morning  the  sentinel  discovered  what  he  supposed  was  a 
flock  of  birds,  flying  toward  him  from  the  morass,  but  he  soon 
discovered  the  true  genus  of  these  feathered  messengers, 
as  nn  arrow  struck  in  a  tree  at  his  side.  The  alarm  was 
instantly  given,  and  the  workmen  fled  toward  the  fort,  the 
Indians  pursuing  and  firing  upon  them  ;  Capt.  Little's  party 
now  opened  their  fire  upon  the  Indians,  who,  turning,  at- 
tacked him  in  such  overwhelming  numbers  that  his  situa- 
tion became  critical  in  the  extreme.  Major  Putnam  and  his 
rangers  were  stationed,  at  this  time,  on  an  island  in  the  river, 
when  learning  the  jeopardy  of  Capt.  Little  and  his  party, 
lie  promptly  leaped  into  the  water,  waded  ashore  and 
hastened  to  the  relief  of  his  comrade.  As  they  passed  the 
fort  Gen.  Lyman  hailed  them  and  ordered  them  to  stop,  but 
"  they  could  not  see  it."  They  swept  through  the  swamp, 
with  a  shout,  and  put  the  assailants  to  flight. 

Fitch  and  Headley. 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIN". 


191 


Durantcaye  and  Sieiir  do  Langj,  to  make  an 
attack  on  Rogers,  who,  with  a  party  of  the  same 
number,  was  scouting  in  the  neighborhood  of 
the  fort.  Rogers  was  surprised,  and  utterly 
defeated.  The  Indians  brought  back  one  him- 
dred  and  forty-four  scalps,  and  some  j)i*isoners, 
among  the  latter,  of  whom  were  two  officers, 
captain,  afterward  ]\[ajor-General  Henry  Pr ingle, 
and  Lieut.  Roche.*  Rogers  retired  with  fifteen 
men  and  two  officers.  Three  days  afterward 
the  two  officers,  having  wandered  about  in  a 
vain  attempt  to  escape,  came  in  and  surren- 
dered themselves  to  the  French. 

Rogers  himself  escaped  by  approaching  Bald 
mountain,  at  the  place  since  called  Rogers'  slide, 
then  revcrsinc:  his  snow-shoes,  and  takincr  a 
back  track  for  some  distance,  he  swung  himself 
by  a  convenient  branch  into  a  defile  and  found 
his  Avay  thence  down  into  the  lake.  The  In- 
dians, following  his  tracks,  approached  the  slide, 
and  were  awe-struck  at  the  apparent  feat  of 
sliding  down  five  or  six  hundred  feet  into  the 
lake,  and  gave  up  the  pursuit. 

June  2.  Sieur  Outelas,  marching  from  Caril- 
lon to  Fort  Edward,  at  the  head  of  twenty -nine 
Nepissings,  and  Algonquins,  discovered  a  party 


*Doc.  X,  713. 


I 


! 


192 


LAKE   GEORGE   A^D 


11 


I 


of  Englis]),  Loups  and  Moliav(^ks.  They  "  uttered 
the  cry  of  attack,  and  buried  the  hatcliet  to  tlie 
heft  in  the  enemy,  who,  intimidated  by  the 
quickness  of  the  attack,  took  to  their  heels. 
Four  were  killed  and  six  taken  prisoners."  * 

Three  great  expeditions  were  this  year  formed 
for  the  conquest  of  Canada.  One,  led  by  Lord 
Amherst  and  James  Wolfe,  was  intrusted  with 
the  siege  and  capture  of  Louisburg,  which  com- 
manded the  entrance  into  the  St.  Lawrence. 
Another,  for  the  conquest  o^  the  Ohio  Valley, 
was  intrusted  to  General  John  Forbes.f  The 
third,  against  Crown  Point  and  Ticonderoga,  :(: 

*Col.  Ilaviland  being  in  command  at  Fort  Edward,  tlio 
barracks,  situated  at  the  north-east  bastion,  accidentally 
caught  fire.  The  magazine,  containing  three  hundred  bar- 
rels of  powder,  stood  but  twelve  feet  distant,  to  save  which 
the  colonel  ordered  the  cannon  to  play  upon  it,  but  without 
much  effect.  Putnam,  who  was  still  at  the  island,  hurried 
across,  and  formed  a  line  of  soldiers,  and,  springing  on  to 
the  roof,  emptied  buckets  of  water  upon  the  barracks,  one 
after  the  other,  as  they  were  passed  up  to  him,  imtil  the 
fire  was  subdued. 

f  Gen.  Forbes  reduced  Fort  Duquesne  in  1758.  Ho 
died  Sunday,  March  11,  1759,  at  Philadelphia.  Dudley 
Bean  states  that  Howe  was  a  grandson  of  George  I.  But 
it  does  not  appear  by  what  authority.  Knickerbocker  Mag- 
azine for  1850. 

J  Variously  spelled  as  follows  : 

Tianarago,  Tiandrogo,        - 


1  fl' 

If 


PW^^^^V 


■ia 


- •Muit.ntlMI 


JMC-A.!*    OF    THE 


urtM  0f  MJkf 


TO    ILLUSTRATE 

ABER^J!KOMBIE'S    ATTACK 

JULYS,  1758. 


aor^WfEt 


ON    CARILLON, 


BBti«v«4  tor  BaUer*«   **Lake  George  aad  Lake  ClwniplaLo ,  ** 


'Tiiiijiijiiiin— iiiiiiiiniiiii'  ■  I 


■fi^ 


■„.■  ,V»-W«w*'W55MS'»»" 


^wmik>^ 


.,  .^ 


I 


I*  V 


i 


Mm 


J 
i 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIN.  193 

was  given  to  Major-General  James  Abererombie, 
a  Scotchman,  while  the  second  in  counnand  was 
Lord  George  Augustus  Viscount  llowe. 

Tlie  orders  came  to  rendezvous  at  Albany, 
May  1.  On  the  9th  of  March  Gen.  Abererom- 
bie dined  with  Governor  De  Lancey,  on  his  way 
to  town  from  the  latter  place.  14th.  An  embargo 
was  levied  on  all  ships  and  vessels  above  iifty 
tons,  in  order  that  they  could  be  used  for  the 
service.  15th.  The  assembly  voted  two  thousand 
six  hundred  and  eighty  men  fur  the  exi)edition, 
besides  those  who  had  gone  privateering,  the 
bateau  men  and  the  wagoners  who  were  im- 
pressed to  convey  up  the  provisions  and  stores. 
Oliver  De  Lancey,  broth  or  of  tlie  Governor, 
accepted  the  command,  with  the  rank  of 
colonel. 

The  New  York  troops  seem  to  have  been 
organized  into  a  single  regiment.  The  follow- 
ing is  a  partial  list  of  the  officers : 

Lient.-Colonel  Leroux. 

Captain  John  Peter  Smith, 134  men. 

"      Ebe  leezer  Seeley, 103     " 

"      Joh.   Verplanck, 98    " 


Tianderogue, 
Atianerogue, 
Atenderapo, 
Tiondurogue, 


Tiantiroga, 
Tionderoge, 
Tiondorogo, 
Tiyonduroga, 


17 


Tyconderogue. 


I 


1 

1 

m 

194 


LAKE   OEOROE   AND 


!  .i  f 


I't 


Capt.  Jonnthnn  Fowlor, 123  itn'n 

"  ThomaH  Arrowsniith, 67     " 

"  Rrul)««n  Lorkwood 103    " 

"  Sti'plicn  Nottingham 100    " 

"  John  M-IvorH lOf     '' 

"  PotruH  Stuyvcflant Pi!/ 

"  Thomas  Williama, 

"  Hichard  Ilidot, 74    " 

"  Jonathan  Ojfdon, 

"  (Juy  Johnson 

4|fi      "  W.  Ilcatlicoat  I)(*  Lancpy, 

Capts.  Joseph  Crano,  Wright,  Stilhvell,  Van  Pelt,  Suy 
(lam.  Brewerton. 

Ten  pounds  bounty  was  voted  to  each  volun- 
teer.* 

22d.  General  Abercrombie,  bv  letter  to  tho 
Governor,  apprebending  tliat  tlie  army  would 
be  sliort  of  provisions,  caused  to  be  impressed, 
secured,  and  delivered  to  tlie  contractors  all  tlie 
provisions  they  could  find,  they  paying  a  rea- 
sonable price  for  the  same.  The  shi})s,  with 
the  ordnance,  arms,  tents,  and  stores,  sailed 
for   New  York,   from    Spithead,   the    first   of 

*  The  troops  received  also  clothing',  to  wit ;  hat,  coat,  pair 
buckskin  breeches,  two  shirts,  two  pair  stockings,  two  ])air 
shoes,  one  blanket,  also  each  company  had  tents,  and  tho 
following  rates  of  pay  per  day  :  To  sergeants  one  shilling 
and  eight  pence-;  corporals  and  drummers  one  shilling  and 
sixpence;  privates  one  shilling  and  three  pence.  The  officers 
had  twenty  shillings  for  each  man  they  enlisted.  De  Laji' 
eey's  Proclamation  {an published),  March  25, 1758. 


LAKE   CHAMPLAIN. 


195 


Aj)ril.  The  taxes  levied  for  tliia  year  were 
equal  to  one  liuiidred  and  thirty  pounds  out 
of  every  two  liuiidred  pounds  income. 

The  interest  in  tliis  eanipai«i;n  was  univer- 
sal, and  absorl)ed  all  thj  talent  of  the  eolo- 
nies.  Anio!i^  the  important  names  wlio  ap- 
j)ear  in  the  Tieonderoj^a  expedition  are  Thomas 
Gage,  already  distinguished  by  his  serviees  on 
the  Monongahela,  in  l--addock's  disastrous  eani- 
paign,  and  at  Luke  (Jeorge,  in  1755,  who  now 
was  raised  to  the  rank  of  eolonel,  and  who, 
seventeen  vears  after,  as  (n)vernor  of  Massa- 
cliusetts  and  gcneral-in-diief,  eonnnanded  the 
British  troops  at  lioston  and  J'unker  Hill;  the 
daring  David  Worster,  afterward  a  nuijor-gen- 
eral  of  the  Hevolution,  he  who  received  his^ 
death-wound  while  fighting  the  British  force  on 
•  Kidgefield  hill ;  William,  the  son  of  Benjamin 
Franklin,  then  not  twenty-seven  years  old,  sub- 
sequently governor  of  New  Jersey ;  llogers  and 
Stark,  who  commanded  the  rangers,  five  hundred 
strong,  each  with  a  fire-lock  and  hatchet  under 
his  right  arm,  a  powder-horn,  and  a  leather  bag 
of  bullets  at  his  waist,  and  to  every  officer  a 
pocket  compass,  as  t'  '3ir  guide  through  the  for- 
est;*   Israel    Putnam,   now   lieutenant-colonel 


I 


•  n 


i 


*  Bancroft. 


I  ' 


196 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


I 


of  one  of  the  Connecticut  regiments ;  Captain 
Scluiyler  (tlie  Philip  Schuyler  of  the  Revolution), 
who  was  tho  aid-dc-camp  and  right  arm  of  Gen. 
Ilowe,  and  now,  in  the  commissary  department, 
was  ensraged  in  forwarding  the  bateaux  and 
supplies ;  Lieut.-Col.  Bradstreet,  famous  for  liis 
gallantry  in  this  expedition,  and  in  the  subse- 
quent advance  on,  and  capture  of,  Fort  Fronte- 
nac,  with  forty  cannon  and  a  vast  quantity  of 
stores  ;  Duncan  Campbell,  a  true  Rob  Roy  ;* 
Capt.  Philip  Skeene,f  of  the  Enniskellen  regi- 


*In  the  buryiiifj-ground  of  Fort  Edward,  Major  Campbell 
was  buried,  and  his  inscription  may  still  be  seen  on  a  red 
eandstone  slab,  as  follows  : 

^  "  Here  Lyes  the  Body  of  Duncan  Campbell,  of  Invershaw, 
Jlsq.,  Major  to  the  old  Ilijrhland  Kej^t.,  Aged  55  years. 
Who  died  the  17th  July,  1758,  of  the  Wounds  he  Received 
in  The  Attack  of  The  Retrenchment  of  Ticonderoga  or 
Carillon  the  8th  July,  1758." 

f  In  March,  17G5,  Skeene  obtained  a  patent  for  the  town- 
ship of  Skeenesborough.  In  1770  he  established  his  resi- 
dence there,  now  Whitehall,  built  mills  and  forges,  and 
opened  the  road  to  Bennington.  In  his  obituary  notice  he 
is  styled  formerly  lieutenant-governor  of  Crown  Point  and 
Ticonderoga,  and  surveyor  of  his  Majesty ';:  woods  and  forests 
bordering  on  Lake  Champlain.  TJie  buildings  of  Skeeno 
were  of  a  very  substantial  kind.  His  house,  situate  on 
William  street,  Whitehall,  was  of  stone,  thirty  by  forty 
feet,  and  two  and  a  half  stories  high.  His  barn,  some  dis- 
tance south,  was  also  of  stone,  one  hundred  and  thirty  feet 


I 


I: 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIN". 


107 


ment,  who  projected  the  settlement  at  Wood 
creek  and  South  Bay,  and  settled  about  thirty 
families  there  ;  John  Campbell,  who  commanded 
the  British  forces  in  West  Florida,  and  by 
whom  Pensacola  was,  in  1781,  surrendered  to 
the  Spaniards ;  Charles  Lee,  appointed  by  Con- 
gress, major-general  in  the  Continental  army ; 
Capt.  James  Marsh,  who  served  on  the  British 
side,  through  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  died 
a  lieutenant-general  in  1801;  Capt.  Richard 
Mather,  of  the  Royal  American  battalion  ;  Capt. 
Garin  Cochran  ;  Major  John  Rutherford,*  of 
the  Royal  Americans,  a  member  of  the  German 
privy  council,  and  who  had  served  in  Sir  Peter 
Ilackett's  brigade,  in  Braddock's  campaign ; 
Capt.  Joseph  Schlosser,  who  afterward  com- 
manded "  Old  Fort  Schlosser,"  at  Niagara ;  Col. 
Henry  Babcock,t  a  captain  in  the  battle  of 
Lake  George,  in  1755;  Capt.  John  AVliIting, 
afterward     lieutenant-colonel     of    the     Rhode 


Ion;?.  The  doorway  was  arched,  and  the  keystone  is  still 
preserved  in  the  wall  of  the  Baptist  Church.  It  bears  tho 
letters  P.  K.  S.,  and  the  date  1770. 

'^  Major  Rutherford  was  killed  at  the  first  attack  onTicon- 
deroga,  July  8,  1758. 

fCol.  Babcock  afterward  entered  holy  orders,  and  was 
eng'aged  in  founding  a  school  for  the  education  of  the  Mo- 
hawk Indians. 

17* 


if 


In 


198 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


Island  regiment ;  Major  AVilliam  Eyre,  who 
built  Fort  AVilliaui  Ilcnry,  and  afterward*  was 
appointed  chief-engineer  of  the  army,  and  laid 
out  a  new  fort  at  Tir;onderoga  ;  Lieut. -Col.  Wil- 
liam Ilaviland,  of  the  Inniskilling  foot,  who 
became  a  major-general  in  the  army,  and  served 
with  distinction  at  the  reduction  of  Havana. 
As  the  troops  arrived  at  Albany  they  went 
into  camp  just  below  the  city.* 

Lord  Howe  was  the  soul  of  the  army,  and 
possessed  extraordinary  powers  of  application. 
His  hair,  of  the  fashion  ^  the  courtiers  of 
George  II,  was  long  and        ndant.     lie  had  it 

*  May  27.  Gcri.  Ahorcrombio  wrote  to  Gov.  Do  Tiancoy, 
that  a  sentinel  on  duty  at  Albany  had  challenged  one  Bur- 
gen  Ilassen.  On  the  second  challenge,  Ilassen  replied, 
"  fire,  and  be  damned,"  whereupon  the  sentry  had  fired  and 
killed  him.  The  coroner's  inquest  had  found  the  fact  to 
be  murder  by  the  sentry.  lie  desired  the  Governor  would 
order  the  civil  magistrate  to  deliver  over  the  prisoner  to 
the  military  authorities,  to  be  tried  by  court-martial,  that 
Ilis  Majesty  might  not  be  deprived  of  the  services  of  the 
man  and  those  who  must  attend  as  v/itnesses  in  the  ordinary 
course  of  law.  It  appeared  to  the  council  that  the  jury  did 
not  clearly  understand  the  case,  and  that  the  people  in  gen- 
eral thought  the  deceased  drew  the  punishment  upon  him- 
self. They  advised  the  Governor  to  order  the  coroner  to 
transmit  the  examinations  of  the  witnesses,  upon  oath,  to 
the  intent  that  the  prisoner  may  be  admitted  to  bail,  if  bail- 
able by  law.    Manuscript  Proceedings  of  Council, 


LAKE   CIIAMPJ.A1N. 


199 


cut  short.  lie  also  wore  a  short  coat,  and 
he  obliged  liis  regiment  to  follow  his  example, 
lie  forbade  all  displays  of  gold  and  scarlet  among 
both  officers  and  men.  lie  had  the  muskets  of 
his  regiment  sliortened,  and  tin  barrels  black- 
ened, that  they  should  not  glisien  in  the  sun, 
and,  to  prevent  the  sting  of  mosquitoes,  he  made 
them  all  wear  canvas  leggins.  lie  mixed  gin- 
ger with  their  water  to  prevent  them  from  hav- 
ing the  ague.  Ilis  quarters  were  usually  in  the 
camp  with  his  men,  instead  of  in  town  at  the 
houses  of  the  hospitable  Albanians.  Always 
courteous  and  amiable,  he  respected  the  opinions 
and  habits  of  those  who  had  been  differently 
brought  up.  To  the  arrogant  and  presumptuous 
unfledged  officer  of  European  birth,  he  used  to 
present  the  weapons  of  ridicule.  "  Knowledge 
and  respect,"  said  his  lordship,  "for  the  varied 
manners  and  opinions  of  others,  will  harmonize 
our  great  army,  and  will  make  it  invincible. 
Any  gentleman  officer  will  find  his  equal  in 
every  regiment  of  the  Americans.  I  know 
them  well.  Beware  how  you  underestimate 
their  abilities  and  feelings,  civil,  social  and 
military."* 

*  Dudley  Bean.     Letter  from  camp.    Boston  News  Let- 
ter, June  22, 1758. 


200 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


The  British  regiments  numbered  the  follow- 
ing : 

27th,  Inniskilling  foot,  Lord  Blakency. 

42d,  Iliglihmders,  originally  "  The  Black 
Watch,''  Lord  John  Murray.* 

iith.  General  Lord  Abercromhie. 

4()th,  Licutcnant-General  Thomas  Murray.     . 

55th.  Lord  Viscount  Howe. 

60th,  Royal  Americans.f 

80th,  Colonel  Thomas  Gage. 

Among  the  Provincial  regiments  were  : 

New  York,  Colonel  Oliver  De  Lancey. 

Khode  Island,  Colonel  Henry  Eabeock. 

*  In  tlie  Black  Watch,  among  the  subordinate  officers, 
appear  the  names  of  Graham,  Campbell,  McNeil,  Graeme, 
Stewart,  Murray  and  Sterling.  When  Rob  Roy  was  out- 
lawed, the  name  of  McGregor  was  forbidden  and  that  of 
Campbell  was  substituted.  The  Highland  clans  had  their 
counselors,  bards  and  songsters,  who  clothed  their  deeds 
with  poetry  and  sang  the  songs  of  the  departed.  The 
losses  of  this  regiment  at  the  battle  of  Ticonderoga,  were 
six  hundred  and  forty-seven  killed  and  wounded,  including 
Major  Duncan  Campbell,  and  all  but  two  officers.  Three 
days  after,  when,  at  Fort  Edward,  the  green  sod  was  being 
placed  over  the  graves  of  the  Major,  and  Captain  John  Camp- 
bell, one,  looking  at  the  sad  countenances  of  the  others,  who 
were  performing  those  rites,  at  length  sail:  "Who  is  our 
counselor  now,  and  who  will  perform  our  dirges?"     Bean. 

f  The  60th  Royal  Americans  was  composed  of  four  battal- 
ions.   The  commander-in-chief  of  the  forces  in  America, 


LAKE    CIIAMPLAIN. 


201 


1st  I^ew  Jersey,  Colonel  JoliTiston. 

2d  New  Jersey,  Colonel  Partridge. 

Ist  Connecticut,  Colonel  Fitch. 

2d  Connecticut,  Colonel  David  Wooster. 

3d  Connecticut,  Colonel  Pliineas  Lyniau. 
Massachusetts,  Colonel  Preble. 

Five  hundred  Mohawks,  Colonel  Sir  William 
Johnson. 

General  Abercronihie  arrived  in  the  city  the 
first  of  June,  and  the  army,  then  numbering 
thirteen  thousand  men,  all  in  high  spirits  and  in 
tolerable  discipline,  presented  a  show  of  mili- 
tary grandeur,  such  as  Albany  has  never  seen 
before  or  since.  Boats  and  canoes,  ammunition 
and  supplies,  "were  hurried  forward  to  Fort 
Edward  in  the  chari^e  of  teamsters  and  boatmen 
hired  and  impressed  from  all  parts  of  the 
country. 


i^ 


.i 


I 


was  usually  the  colonel  ex  officio  of  the  regiment.  Lord 
Viscount  Howe  was  colonel  comman '  iit,  Feb.  25,  1757, 
and  was  transferred  to  the  55th  as  colonel,  Sept.  26,  1757. 
At  this  time  it  'lad  the  following  officers : 

Colonel  Coniitinndant — Robert  Monckton. 

Lieutenant-Colonels — Henry  Boquet,  Frederick  Ilaldiman, 
St.  John  St.  Clair,  John  Young. 

Majors — James  Robertson,  John  Rutherford,  Augustus 
Prevost,  John  Tullikena. 

The  2d  and  4th  battalions  were  with  this  expedition. 


I 

) 

i 

■    'I- 


1 

J 

^^^^Bl.i- 

1 

1 

^^^H;!l; 

■< 

i 

t 

k 

flHiiij 

202 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


On  the  5th,  Lord  IIowc  moved  forward  with 
one-half  of  the  army,  arriving  at  Fort  Edward 
on  the  Sth.* 

The  second  division,  under  the  commander- 
in-chief,  followed,  and  extended,  with  their 
trains,  accordinc:  to  a  writer  of  that  dav,  a  dis- 
tance  of  seventeen  miles. 

Itogers,  with  fifty  men,  and  hoats  in  wagons, 
pushed  forward  to  make  a  rcconnoisance  of  the 
fort  at  Ticonderoga,  and  the  force  therein. 
Keturning  without  delay  to  report,  lie  found 

*  Aunt  Schuyler,  as  tliis  amiable  young  officer  familiarly 
styled  his  maternal  friend,  had  a  hi<?h  esteem  for  him,  and 
the  jjreatest  hope  that  ho  would,  at  some  future  time,  redress 
the  evils  that  had  formerly  impeded  the  service.  In  the 
morninjT  Lord  Ilowe  proposed  setting  out  very  early,  but 
when  he  arose  he  was  astonished  to  find  Madame  Schuyler 
waiting  and  breakfast  ready.  He  smiled,  and  said  he  would 
not  disappoint  her,  as  it  was  hard  to  say  when  he  would 
again  dine  with  a  lady.  Impressi^d  with  an  unaccountable 
degree  of  concern  about  the  fate  of  the  enterprise  in  which 
he  was  embarked,  she  again  repeated  her  counsels  and  her 
caution,  and,  wjicn  ho  was  about  to  depart,  embraced  him 
with  the  affection  of  a  mother,  and  shed  many  tears,  a  weak- 
ness she  did  not  often  give  way  to.  A  few  days  after,  in  the 
afternoon,  a  man  was  seen  coming  on  horseback  from  the 
north,  galloping  violently,  without  his  hat.  Pedram  ran 
eagerly  to  inquire,  well  knowing  he  rode  express.  The 
man  galloped  on,  crying  out  that  liord  Howe  was  killed. 
Shrieks  and  sobs  of  anguish  re-echoed  from  every  ])art  of  the 
house.    Letters  of  an  American  Lady,  vol.  ii,  p.  273. 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIN. 


203 


* 


Lord  IIowo  encamped  at  the  Iliilf-way  Lrook. 
June  22  they  arrived  at  tlie  lake ;  Roij^ers 
encanij)ini^  witli  his  rangers  on  the  slope  of  the 
hill  occupied  formerly  by  Dc  Levi,  near  the 
llendrick  Spring,  and  Lord  Howe  on  the  rocky 
eminence  known  as  Fort  George. 

"  Putnam  was  here  detachod  with  fiftv  ranorers  to  srout 
along  Wood  creek  and  South  Bay.  lie  jjroeeeded  down  tho 
creek  to  "  Fiddler's  Elbow,''  about  a  mile  below  Whitehall, 
where  high  rocks  jut  into  the  stream,  and,  compressing  it 
into  narrow  limits,  make  a  short  and  sudden  curve.  On 
this  ho  erected  a  stone  breastwork,  about  thirty  feet  long, 
and  concealed  its  front  by  pine  trees,  so  placed  as  to  prescnit 
the  appearance  of  a  natural  growth  of  forest.  On  the  fourth 
day,  at  evening,  a  body  of  men  fnmi  Carillon,  in  boats, 
commanded  by  M.  Marin,  was  seen  entering  the  mouth  of 
the  creek.  The  moon  was  at  its  full,  and  shed  its  clear, 
yellow  light  upon  every  movement  of  tin;  enemy.  In  tho 
dead  silence  was  heard  the  murmur  of  voices,  and  even  tho 
ripples  that  broke  around  tho  barges.  Continuing  to 
advance,  some  of  tho  boats  had  already  i)assed  the  parapet, 
when  a  soldier's  musket,  accidently  striking  u  stone,  gave  a 
ring  so  audible,  in  the  stillness  of  the  evening,  that  tho 
leading  canoes  stopped.  The  others  coming  up,  they  lay 
upon  their  oars  at  the  base  of  the  cliff — five  hundred  men 
crowded  together,  their  upturned  faces  distinctly  seen  by 
the  light  of  the  evening.  They  gazed  intently  at  tho  para- 
pet, upon  the  apex  of  which,  like  a  bird  of  prey  in  his 
eyrie,  Putnam  was  watching  his  victims.  The  low  "0'ici.sh  " 
of  the  Indian  stole  over  the  water.  A  moment  more,  and 
the  word  "Fire!"  broke  upon  their  ears  in  startling  clear- 
ness from  the  lips  of  the  provincial  commander.  At  oni:;e 
tho   flash  of  musketry  gleamed   from   the   bushes,  and   a 


mnnmm 


204 


LAKE   GKORGE   AND 


II  |f 


,\'U 


shower  of  balls  Hcnt  (lcn*h  into  the  mass  beneath.  All  was 
coiifuHion  and  while  sonio  moved  out  from  the  thickest 
of  the  crowd,  others  replied  by  a  volley  of  bullets,  which 
cut  through  the  trees  and  struck  hannlessly  ajrainst  the  rocks. 
The  fi«jfht,  such  as  it  was,  was  continued  during?  the  entire 
nijifht.  The  French  detached  a  body  of  men  to  effect  a  land 
ing  and  charge  u])on  the  rear  of  the  provincials.  Lieut.  Rob- 
ert Durkee,  with  a  detail  of  twelve  men,  was  sent  to  oi)po8e 
them  in  this  design,  in  whi'^h  he  succeeded.  In  the  morn- 
ing, his  ammunition  being  exhausted,  Putnam  retreated, 
leaving  two  wounded  soldiers.  As  he  was  falling  back,  the 
commander  was  met  by  a  party  who  had  come  out  to  his 
assistance.  Before  they  could  be  recognized,  they  received 
a  volley,  which,  however,  was  harmless.  "  Friends  or  foes," 
says  Putnam,  "y>vi  deserve  to  perish  for  doing  so  little 
execution."  Lieut  Durkee  was  shot  in  the  thigh  at  the 
massacre  at  Wyoming,  1780." 

June  28th  brought  to  Lake  George  the 
remainder  of  tlie  army  -with  Abercrombie, 
whose  ^vllite  tents,  defined  •with  military  pre- 
cision over  the  hills  and  on  the  rising  plains, 
extended  from  the  water's  edge,  and  half 
encircling  it  qnite  around  the  west  side 
and  outside  the  lino?  of  Montcalm,  beyond 
the  artillery  cove.*  The  encamp  vjent  formed 
a  scene  of  grandeur  and  display  which  had 
never  been  equalled  in  the  New  World. 
But   not   the  brilliant  appearance  of  military 


*  To  and  including  the  plateau  of  the  Caldwell  Manor 
House. 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIN. 


205 


equipage  or  the 


prc- 

ains, 

half 

side 

eyond 
med 
had 

|\^.rld. 
litary 

Manor 


extent  of  the  camp,  which  will 
lead  captive  the  imagination,  formed  the  most 
ex*^raordinary  characteristic  of  the  drama ;  it 
was  the  marked  individuality  which  character- 
ized the  whole.  Tlierc  were  the  courtiers  of  a 
great  kingdom,  the  liigh-horn  nohlemcn  of  a 
race  who  had  ])ossessed  their  domain  for  a  thou- 
sand years,  the  red  chiefs  of  North  American 
wilds,  the  grenadiers  who  had  grown  brown  in 
the  service  of  the  east,  their  different  corps ; 
their  widely  extended  fame  ;  all  these,  Avith  the 
regulars  from  the  North  American  colonies,  and 
the  inimitable  rangers — who  could  doubt  their 
success  ?  It  was  a  regalia,  a  regatta  party  of 
all  nations  costumed  in  the  various  colors  of 
military  pomp,  of  royal  courts,  of  clans,  prov- 
inces and  the  forest ;  and  the  lake,  calm  and  still, 
faithfully  reflected  back  the  beauty  of  the 
scene. 

Such  was  the  appearance  of  the  encampment 
on  the  evening  of  the  fourth  day  of  July,  1758. 
At  daylight  on  the  morning  of  Sunday,  the 
fifth,  according  to  the  order,  the  tents  were 
struck  and  the  army  in  vast  columns  converged 
to  three  points  for  the  embarkation,  two'on  the 
beach  in  front  of  Fort  George  and  William 
Henry,  and  the  third  from  the  temporary  dock 
on  the  west  side. 
18 


i 


lit 


206 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


Tlio  center  division  was  formed  of  the  gren- 
adiers and  higlilandcrs.  The  wings  were  com- 
posed of  the  provincials,  led  by  Colonel  Gage 
on  the  right,  and  on  the  left  by  Maj(jr  Tvogers. 
The  army  comprised  6,350  regulars  and  9,000 
provincials. 

Tlie  fleet  consisted  of  nine  hundred  bateaux, 
one  hundred  and  thirty -five  whale-boats,  nu- 
merous rafts  carrying  the  artillery,  and  two  huge 
castles,  highly  decorated,  eacli  with  two  mounted 
cannon,  and  from  which  the  English  itag  towered 
the  highest.*  The  parallel  columns  now  moving 
extended  from  shore  to  shore,  and  covered  the 
lake  for  six  miles  and  a  half.  In  the  narrows 
and  passing  the  islands,  they  defiled,  forming 
subdivisions.  "Leaving  these,  they  reformed, 
moving  in  stately  procession  down  the  beautiful 
lake,  bright  with  banners,  cheered  by  martial 
music,  beaming  ■with  hope  and  pride,  though 
with  no  witness  but  the  wilderness."  f 

Twenty-five  miles  brought  them  past  where 
the  mountains  "  step  down  to  the  water's  edge," 
and  at  a  place  already  famous  in  partisan  legend, 
but  henceforth  to  be  known  as  Sabbath-day 
Point, 'in  the  picturesque  loveliness  of  the 
forest,  enhanced  "  by  the  richest  hues  of  even- 

*Bean.    f  Bancroft. 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIN. 


207 


•tial 


tl 


le 


even- 


ing liglit,"  at  five  o'clock  tlicy  laiuled.  Hero 
was  tlie  scene  of  tlie  nnfortunate  defeat  of  Col. 
Parker  last  year,  \vliose  melancholy  remains, 
botli  on  land  and  shore,  were  still  visible. 

Lord  Ilowe,  reclining  on  a  hcar-skin  in  the 
tent  of  his  friend  Stark,  questioned  him  closely 
as  to  the  position  of  Ticonderoga  and  the  fittest 
modes  of  attack.  Lighting  immense  fires  they 
favored  the  belief  that  they  would  remain  all 
nificht,  but  at  ten  o'clock  the  artillerv  and  rear 
brigades  having  come  up,  they  moved  on  to  the 
landing  place,  which  they  reached  early  in  the 
morn  in  2:. 

Montcalm  had  arrived  at  Carillon,  or  Ticon- 
deroi^a,  on  the  30th  June. 

July  1.  At  day-break  he  dispatched  Bour- 
lemaque,  with  three  regiments,  to  occupy  the 
head  of  the  portage,  and  proceeded  himself, 
witli  four  others,  to  the  falls,  on  both  sides  of 
which  he  encamped,  leaving  the  third  battalion 
of  Berri,  to  guard  the  fort. 

July  2.  At  five  o'clock  a.  m.,  two  musket 
shots  were  heard,  which  caused  the  regiments 
to  stand  to  arms,  when  word  came  from  the 
captain  of  the  guard,  that  having  "discovered 
a  feather,"  he  had  promptly  retired  behind  a 
tree,  wliich  saved  him  from  a  shot  that  was 
fired  by  a  hostile  Indian,  who  was  ready  to 


i 


in* 

It 


M 

h  I 


208 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


11 


i| 


pounce  upon  liim,  tonialiawk  in  hand.  lie  ro- 
tunied  tlie  lire,  which  the  Indian  evaded  by 
falling  on  the  ground,  and  fled,  when  the  ofl'cer 
called  out  Aviol  Volunta'wesy 

5th.  Sunday,  service  as  usual.  At  two  o'clock 
p.  M.  saw  a  white  flag  on  the  Black  Mountain* 
hoisted  and  lowered,  which  was  a  signal  that 
barges  were  upon  the  lake.  De  Langy's  detach- 
ment of  one  hundred  and  seventy-eight  vol- 
unteers returned,  reporting  that  they  had  been 
up  as  far  as  Ganouskie  Bay  and  been  chased 
by  sixty  bargee.  Capt.  De  Trepezec,  of  the 
Beam  regiment,  with  a  detachment  of  three 
hundred  men,  was  immediately  sent  off  to 
Bald  Mountain,  to  observe  the  movements 
of  the  Engli?h  and  to  oppose  their  landing. 
At  day-light  the  English  barges  were  observed 
coming  forward  in  order,  and  appearing  in 
search  of  a  place  for  landing.  At  eight  o'clock, 
Bourlemaque  gave  orders  to  have  the  tents  struck. 
He  remained  with  the  rear  guard,  fired  at  the 
barges  as  they  approached,  and  withdrew.  Ar- 
riving at  the  falls,  he  was  posted  on  the  right 
of  the  La  Sarre  brigade,  at  the  foot  of  the 
heights.     The  Eousillons  were  withdrawn  from 

*  The  Indian  name  for  Bald  Mountain  was,  Tekagli- 
weanga-ra-negliton. 


m 


i 


LAKE   CIIAMI'LAIN. 


200 


the  right  bank,  and  the  bridges  broken  up.  At 
four  o'clock  several  shots  were  heard,  which 
proved  to  be  fired  at  Do  Trepezee,  who  a  few 
minutes  afterward  arrived,  with  some  soldiers 
mortally  wounded.  He  lost  his  way,  through 
the  fault  of  his  guide.  After  defending  himself 
for  some  time,  fifty  or  sixty  of  his  men  escaped, 
the  rest  were  either  killed  or  captured.  On 
landing,  the  English  army  formed  and  marched 
in  four  columns,  preceded  by  the  rangers,  who 
were  ordered  to  take  post  on  the  north  moun- 
tain. The  right  column  of  the  center  division, 
commanded  by  Lord  Howe,  having  advanced  to 
Trout  brook,  fell  in  with  De  Trepezee,  as  above 
stated.  In  his  column  were  Cols.  Lyman,  Fitch 
and  De  Lancey,  who  formed  the  front,  and 
received  the  first  fire.  Capt.  Burbank,  with 
one  hundred  and  fifty  men,  was  ordered  to 
remain  at  Rogers'  first  position,  while  the 
latter,  with  the  remainder  of  the  force,  fell 
upon  the  enemy's  left — the  river  covering  the 
right.  Rallying  from  their  bewilderment,  and 
desperate  from  their  position,  hemmed  in  on  all 
sides,  the  fire  of  the  French  and  Indians  was 
severe,  and  the  action  became  general.  The 
ground  was  uneven,  and  densely  covered  with 
thick  and  tangled  underbrush,  so  that  there  was 
but  little  form  or  order  to  the  battle.  Rushing 
18* 


f-« 


% 


i 


210 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


forward,  Lord  Howe  saw  the  very  musket  aimed 
at  liim,  and  within  twenty  feet  of  him,  which  a 
moment  more  he  would  have  stricken  down, 
but  wliich  discharged  the  fatal  messenger  by 
which  he  was  instantly  killed.  Colonel  Delan- 
cey  was  within  fifteen  feet  of  him,  and  leaping 
forward,  with  others  who  had  watched  him,  the 
pride  of  the  army  fell  into  the  arms  of  those 
who  had  loved  him.  "lie  is  dead,"  said  De- 
lancey,  "  onward  and  avenge  his  death."  The 
provincials  and  rangers  fought  with  renewed 
earnestness. 

The  French  would  make  no  formal  surrender, 
but  being  overpowered  and  pressed  in  every 
direction  by  the  vastly  outnumbering  English, 
were  slain  in  parties  of  two  or  three  in  their 
ambuscades  or  behind  trees.  Two  hundred 
were  killed,  one  Imndred  and  forty-eight  made 
prisoners,  and  about  seventy-five  escaped. 
These  were  forwarded  to  New  York,  under  che 
charge  of  Capt.  Jeremiah  Richards,  of  the 
Massachusetts  forces.*     The  loss  of  the  Eng- 

*  Ileadley  says :  "  The  prisoners  were  placed  on  a  little  isle, 
since  called  Prisoner's  island,  which  is  connected  to  the  main- 
land by  a  ledge  rising  to  within  eighteen  inches  of  the  sur- 
face. This  was,  of  course,  unknown  to  the  English  ;  but  in 
the  night  the  prisoners  walked  off.  As  Montcalm  dryly 
remarked, ' they  took  French  leave.'"    Bnt, 2)er  c&ntra:  In 


■IF 


LAKE  CIIAMPLAIir. 


211 


by 


.ng- 


e  isle, 
I  main- 
10  sur- 
butin 
dryly 
ra\  In 


lish,  including  Lord  Howe*  and  those  severely 
wounded,  was  twenty-two.  So  closed  the  events 
of  the  day,  and  the  army  that  night  rested  on 
the  battle-ground. 

7th.  The  next  day,  the  troops,  having  been 
greatly  fatigued,  by  being  one  night  on  the 
water,  the  next  dav  constantlv  on  foot,  and  the 
next  niglit  under  aims,  added  to  their  want  of 
provision,  returned  to  the  landing  place.  About 
eleven  o'clock  a.  m.,  Lieut. -Col.  Bradstreet,  with 
the  Forty-fourth  regiment,  the  iirst  battalion 
of  Royal  Americans,  the  bateau  men,  the 
rangers,  and  provincials,  set  out  to  take  posses- 
sion of  the  saw-mill,  within  two  miles  of  the 

-  ■ 

the  manuscript  council  minutes  for  1758,  page  219,  is  tlie 
account  of  Capt.  Richards  attending  and  acquainting  the 
council  that  he  had  brought  down  under  his  care  one  hun- 
dred and  twemy-five  French  prisoners,  seven  of  whom  are 
officers.  Whereupon  *  *  ordered  that  the  prisoners 
do  proceed  to  Brockhaven,  in  Suffolk  county,  there  to  bo 
delivered  to  George  Muirson,  Esq.,  high  sheriff  of  that 
county,  Avho  is  hereby  directed  to  receive  them  and  to  dis- 
tribute them  in  proper  places,  having  particular  regard  to 
place  the  Canadians  in  places  where  they  will  be  least  liable 
to  make  their  escape. 

*  "  He  was,"  said  Abercrombie,  "  very  deservedly  and  uni- 
versally resjiected  and  beloved  tliroughout  the  whole  aniiy. 
It  is  easy  to  conceive  the  grief  and  consternation  his 
untimely  fall  occasioned.  I  cannot  help  owning  that  I  felt 
it  most  heavily,  and  lanient  him  as  sincerely." 


I 


212 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


fort,  which  was  soon  eflfected,  as  the  French  had 
retired  the  day  before.  Bradstreet  laid  down  a 
new  bridge,  and  tlie  army  marched  that  niglit, 
and  took  up  their  quarters  tliere.  The  French 
had  already  proceeded  to  build  an  abatis,  cover- 
ing the  whole  of  the  ground  between  the  falls 
and  the  reserved  timber  on  Lake  Champlain. 
At  five  o'clock  in  the  evening,  "  the  ground  was 
equally  divided  between  each  wheelbarrow, 
and  made  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven  paces 
for  each."  In  the  evening,  the  troops  under 
De  Levi,  which  were  designed  for  an  attack  on 
the  German  flats,  but  had  been  recalled,  arrived 
and  encamped  in  the  rear  of  the  three  brigades. 
8th.  At  five  o'clock  a.  m.,  each  battalion  was 
set  to  work  to  strengthen  the  abatis,  one 
hundred  and  fifty  paces  in  front  of  which  the 
pickets  were  posted,  to  protect  the  workmen. 
The  same  morning  Abercrombie  sent  out  Col. 
Clark,  tlie  chief-engineer,  across  the  river,  to 
make  a  reconnoisance,  from  Mount  Defiance.- 
Upon  his  return  he  gOuVe  a  favorable  report  of 
the  practicability  of  carrying  the  works  by  storm. 
The  reports  of  the  prisoners,  having  also  given 
information  of  the  expected  re-enforcements, 
under  De  Levi,  who,  as  before  stated,  had 
already  arrived,  an  assault  was  ordered  that 
very  day. 


LAKE   CIIAMPLALN. 


213 


Ticonderoga  is  the  part  which  includes  the 
military  grounds,  just  as  they  now  appear,  ex- 
tending from  the  point  of  land  made  by  the 
confluence  of  the  waters  back  on  the  shores  of 
each,  for  one  mile,  and  here  the  first  wall  of  the 
fort  —  the  old  French  lines,  as  they  are  called  — 
extend  across  from  water  to  water,  three-fourths 
of  a  mile.  In  this  triangular  formation,  within 
their  strong  intrenchment,  lay  the  entire  French 
army.  Had  Colonel  Clark  ordered  a  road  built 
up  to,  and  a  battery  placed  on.  Mount  De- 
fiance, as  Burgoync  afterward  did,  he  would 
have  commanded  the  place  and  ^^ley  would  have 
been  obliged  to  retreat,  without  the  power  to 
strike  a  blow.  But  this  was  not  to  be.  De 
Levi  had  charge  of  the  defenses  of  the  right, 
with  the  regiments  of  La  Reine,  Beam  and. 
Gayenne ;  Bourlemaque  of  the  left,  with  the 
battalions  of  La  Sarre  and  Lauguedock ;  while 
Montcalm  retained  the  center,'^'  with  the  bat- 
talions of  Berry  and  Rousillon  In  all,  the 
French  force  was  3,250  men.  Each  battalion 
had  a  reserve  of  pickets  and  grenadiers  stationed 


i. 


*  The  spot  where  Montcalm  stood  is  plainly  identified 
about  ninety  yards  north  of  the  traveled  road  and  a  few 
rods  in  rear  of  the  old  lines.  Montcalm  had  his  coat  off 
during  the  entire  action. 


1^ 


214 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


behind  it.  The  riglit  and  left  rested  on  a  ravine, 
protected  each  by  a  battery.  Tlie  center  fol- 
lowing the  sinuosities  of  the  ground  and  keep- 
ing on  the  summit  of  the  heights,  flanked  the 
wings  reciprocally.  For  additional  defenses 
tlie  oak  trees  were  felled  in  front  of  the  lines 
for  a  hundred  yards,  their  branches  sharpened 
and  pointed  outward. 

Experience  has  shown  a  work  of  this  kind, 
when  defended  by  resolute  men,  to  be  in  fact 
impregnable. 

On  the  morning  of  this  day,  Colonel  Sir  Wil- 
liam Johnson  joined  the  English  army  with  iive 
hundred  Indians  from  the  Six  Nations,  who 
took  post  on  Mount  Defiance,  silent  spectators 
of  the  extraordinary  fight  that  was  about  to 
take  place. 

The  orders  of  Abcrcrombie  provided  for  the 
rangers,  the  light  infjintry,  and  the  right  wing 
of  the  provincials  to  march  immediately  and 
post  themsches  in  a  line  out  of  cannon-shot  of 
the  intrenchment ;  their  right  "extending  to 
Lake  George  and  their  left  resting  on  Lake 
Champlain."  These  were  supported  by  the  six 
regiments  of  Massachusetts  and  the  first  bat- 
talion of  tlie  New  York  regiment.  The  gren- 
adiers were  to  form  in  their  rear,  and  they  in 
turn  to  be  supported  by  the  battalions  of  the 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIN. 


215 


Coimecticiit  and  Xew  Jersey  regiments.  The 
wliole  were  ordered  to  move  up  briskly,  and 
not  to  deliver  their  fire  until  they  were  within 
the  enemy's  breastworks. 

Two  rafts  were  eonstructed,  eaeh  to  receive 
two  six-pounders,  which  descended  the  river, 
and  took  the  intrenchment  in  the  rear.  Three 
pieces  of  artillery  were  brought  to  bear  ui)on 
these  from  the  fort,  aided  by  Barnard's  and 
Duprat's  sharp-shooters,  which  sank  one  of  the 
rafts  and  a  pontoon,  and  drove  back  some  twenty 
barges  which  had  advanced  to  support  them. 

At  one  o'clock,  when  the  midday  sun  poured 
down  its  hottest  rays  upon  the  scene  of  strife, 
Abercroi.ibie  gave  the  fatal  order  to  attack." 
On  the  left  were  Rogers'  rangers,  in  the  center 
the  bateaux  men  of  Colonel  IJradstreet,  and  on 
the  right  Colonel  Gage's  light  infantry. 

These  marched  up,  and,  having  received  the 
fire  from  the  works,  they  moved  aside  and  the 
regular  battalions  came  to  the  front.  These 
again  were  sustained  by  the  42d  Highlanders, 
then  in  the  height  of  deserved  reputation  gained 
at  Fontenoy  and  elsewhere,  and  the  55th,  now 
commanded  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Prideaux. 
With  steady  step  the  intrepid  columns  pressed 

*  Abercrombie's  dispatch.    Warburton,  ii,  p.  92. 


'1 


'i' 


'^M 


M  < 


216 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


on  through  the  heavy  swamps  and  tangled  under- 
wood, their  ranks  now  shattered  hy  the  deliber- 
ate fire  of  the  French,  now  broken  by  the 
nneven  ground ;  they  passed  into  the  fallen 
timber  and  endeavored  to  force  themselves 
through  the  impenetrable  abatis.  The  French 
artillery  played  upon  the  center.  Still,  with 
thinned  but  inibroken  column,  they  pushed, 
unfaltering,  through  the  one  hundred  yards  of 
fallen  trees.  The  Highlanders,  who  should  have 
been  in  reserve,  rushed  to  the  front ;  active, 
impetuous,  they  reached  the  trenches  at  the 
parapet,  which  were  here  found  to  be  twenty 
feet  wide.  Captain  John  Campbell  and  a  few 
of  the  liob  Roys  forced  their  way  over  the 
breastwork,  but  were  instantly  dispatched  by 
the  bayonet.  "  Fresh  troops  pressed  on,  rival- 
ing the  courage  and  sharing  the  fate  of  those 
who  had  led  the  way.  For  nearly  four  hours, 
like  the  succeeding  M^aves  of  an  ebb  tide,  they 


attacked   again 


and    again,  each 


time    losing 


somewhat  of  their  vantage  ground;  now  fiercely 
rushing  on,  unflinchingly  enduring  the  murder- 
ous fire,  then  sullenly  falling  back  to  reform 
their  broken  ranks  for  a  fresh  eftbrt.  It  was 
vain  at  last,  as  it  was  at  first,  the  physical  dif- 
ficulties were  imjiassable ;  and  upon  that  rude 
barrier,   which   the   simplest  maneuver  would 


LAKE   CITAMPLAIN. 


217 


hey 


have  avoided,  or  one  hour  of  well  plied  artillery 
would  have  swept  away,  the  flower  of  British 
ehivalrv  was  crushed  and  broken.* 

An  accident  at  last  arrested  this  melancholy 
carnage.  A  British  column,  havinn;  lost  their 
way  and  become  bewildered  in  the  forest,  when 
they  finally  emerged  upon  the  open  ground, 
perceived  a  lire  close  in  their  front,  and,  as  they 
supposed,  from  tlie  French  intrenchmcnts. 
Promptly  they  poured  in  a  volley  upon  the  sup- 
posed enemy.  But  M'hen  the  breeze  from  the 
lake  lifted  up  the  smc»ke,  they  saw,  to  their  con- 
fusion, that  their  shots  had  fallen  with  fatal 
precision  among  their  own  brethren. 

At  live  o'clock  the  columns  concentrated 
themselves  upon  the  angle  defended  by  the 
battalion  of  .Guyenne,  so  that  the  danger  became 
imminent  there.  Da  Levi  hastened  thither 
with  some  troops  from  the  right,  and  Mont- 
calm, also,  with  part  of  the  reserve. 

At  six  o'clock  both  columns  turned  upon  the 
right  against  the  battalions  of  Kousillon  and 
Berry,  and,  being  again  repulsed,  made  a  part- 
ing charge  on  the  left.  "  The  lire  on  the  one 
side  and  the  other,  was  like  that  at  the  battle 
of  Parma." 


ill 


I 


ii 


*  Warburton's  Conquest  of  Canada,  ii,  94. 
19 


n  i 


218 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


Hi 


At  seven  o'clock  the  Enjrlisli,  covered  l)v  the 
fire  of  the  raiijT^errt  and  provincials,  retreated, 
abandonin^j;,  with  the  Held  of  battle,  the  dead 
and  a  large  portion  of  their  wounded.  The 
slauii^hter,  which  had  been  almost  uninterrupt- 
edly (tarried  on  for  five  hours,  now  ceased,  the 
fortunes  of  the  day  were  decided,  and  a  mass 
of  human  bodies,  dyin^;;;  liiid  dead,  covered  the 
ground  even  far  beyond  the  lines  and  stroni>; 
battlcm.cnts  of  the  enemy.  The  number  killed 
and  wounded  was  1,042,  of  which  1,G08  were 
regulars,  and  334  were  provincials.  The  loss 
of  the  enemy  proved  to  be  380. 

The  English  regiments  retired  successively. 
Most  of  their  officers  had  been  struck  down. 
There  was  no  one  to  command,  Abercrombio 
being  two  miles  to  the  rear  at  the  saw-mills. 
As  they  fell  back,  their  disorder  became  irre- 
trievable, and  those  V\'ho  had  been  foremost  in 
the  assault,  were  soon  the  first  in  the  disgrace- 
ful flight.  Highlanders,  rangers,  provincials 
and  grenadiers  scarce  looked  behind  them  in 
their  terror,  when  no  man  pursued. 

The  fugitives  rallied  at  the  saw-mill  around 
the  rear  guard  which  were  posted  at  the  head- 
quarters. But  before  confidence  was  restored, 
an  extraordinary  command  of  Abercrombie,  to 
fall  back  to  the  landing,  increased  the  panic. 


LAKK   CIIAMI'LAIN. 


219 


The  troops,  b-caking  from  jill  order  aiul  control, 
crowded  toward  tlie  boats.  Kortuiiatelv  l)rad- 
street,  who  seems  always  to  have  been  in  tlic 
riii:lit  place,  still  had  a  small  force,  which,  like 


1 


^elf. 


)t   shaken   bv  th 


uinseir,   were    not  shaken   oy  Tiie   paniv. 


Ho 


threw  himself  with  ])rompt  decision  l)eforc  the 

landin<;  place,  and  wonld  not   sutler  a  man  to 

embark.     After  awhile  reijularity  was  restored, 

and  the  troops  held  their  ground  for  the  night. 

On  the  morning  of  the  9th,  orders  were  issued 

to  re-embark  the  army,  notwithstandinj;  that  it 

contained  still   12,000  fighting  men  and  se\'eral 

good    intrenched    camps.     The    army   reached 

Fort  William  IFenrv  in  the  evening;,  having  been 

absent  tive  davs.     The   wounded   officers  and 

men  were  sent  to  Fort  Edward  and  Albany. 

At  the  time  of  his   death  Lord  Tlowe  was 

tliirtv-four  years  old.     Massachusetts  Bay  voted 

£250  for  a  monument   to  his   memory,  which 

was  placed  in  AVestminster  Abbey,  and  bears 

the  following  inscription  : 

"  TlfB  provina?  of  Massacliusetts  E.ay,  in  New  Enjrland, 
by  an  ordor  of  the  grout  and  general  court,  bcurinf;  date 
February  1,  IToO,  caused  this  monument  to  be  erected  to 
the  memory  of  Georffo  Lord  Viscount  Howe,  Brij^adier- 
General  of  liis  Majesty's  forces  in  Nortli  America,  who  was 
slain  July  G,  1758,  on  his  march  to  Ticondero<;a,  in  the 
thirty-fourth  year  of  his  ajje,  in  testimony  of  the  sense  they 
had  of  his  services  and  military  vinues,  and  of  the  affection 
their  officers  and  soldiers  bore  to  his  command.     lie  lived 


!l!l 


ji 


^\ 


h 


220 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


.11 


roflpoctcd  and  beloved.    The  public  regretted  his  loss;  to 
his  funiily  it  is  irrcimniljlo." 

His  body  was  conveyed  back  throujj^li  Lake 
George  In  tlie  midst  of  tbe  army  of  wliich  lie 
ha(^  been  tbe  pride  and  tbe  idob  Under  tbe 
cbarn;e  of  bis  friend  and  companion,  Ca])t.  Pliilip 
Scbnyler,  tbe  remains  were  forwarded  to  Fort 
Edward,  tbence  taken  to  Albany,  and  found  a 
temj)orary  resting:  ]dace  in  tbe  vault  of  tbe  sor- 
rowing family  wbo  mourned  bim  as  one  of 
tbeir  own.  Subserpicntly,  witli  all  tbe  pomp 
of  military  display,  to  tbe  tolHng  of  tbe  bells, 
tbe  discbarge  of  minute  guns,  and  tbe  jdaying 
of  a  dirge,  in  tbe  presence  of  tbousands,  tbe 
relies  were  l)orne  in  state  to  tbe  "  Englisb 
Cliurcb."  Tbere,^witb  solemn  Episcopal  rites, 
and  to  tbe  singing  of  a  requiem,  tbe  coffin, 
wrapped  in  a  prepared  canvas,  disappeared  from 
public  view,  and  was  placed  in  a  vault  under 
tbe  cbancel,  marked  witb  tbe  bcraldic  insignia 
of  bis  family. 

Forty-four  3'ears  glided  away.  Two'  gen- 
erations of  men  bad  succeeded.  Tbose  ideas 
wliicb  tbe  imaginations  of  tbe  great  Franklin 
and  otber  fatbers,  near  tbis  spot  —  "glancing 
from  beaven  to  eartb,  from  eartli  to  beaven  " — 
bad  bodied  fortb  as  tlio  forms  of  tilings  divine, 
were  called  into  sliapes  ;  and  tbe  airy  notbings 


li 


^r 


LAKE   CnAMPLAIN. 


221 


found  a  local  habitation  and  a  name.  The 
"  Albany  plan  of  union  "  had  assumed  a  reality, 
revised  and  enlarf!:ed,  as  the  basis  of  one  of 
the  most  powerful  nations  on  the  globe.  A 
new  and  stately  house  of  worship  had  been 
erected  to  take  the  place  of  the  low-browed 
church  in  the  street.  In  the  presence  of  those 
to  most  of  whom  the  events  chronicled  in  these 
pages  had  become  a  matter  of  tradition,  the 
vault  was  oj>ened.  The  decayed  coffin  of  rich 
mahogany  was  revealed  that  contained  the 
ashes  of  the  gallant  dead,  enshrouded  in  habili- 
ments of  gorgeous  silk.  The  hair,  dressed  in  the 
fashion  of  the  age,  was  found  to  have  grown 
several  inches;  the  ribbon  that  bound  it  was 
yet  black  and  glossy.  All,  on  exposure,  shrank 
into  dust.  The  remains,  inclosed  in  a  new  chest, 
were  reverently  placed  along  the  north  wall 
of  the  modern  edifice.  Twenty-four  others, 
who,  in  a  former  age,  had,  either  from  their 
social  position  or  the  sanctity  of  their  lives,  been 
deemed  worthy  to  be  buried  under  the  former 
church,  were  also  removed,  and  their  bones 
placed  side  by  side  near  the  foundation. 

Fifty-seven  years  had  elapsed,  and  again  in 
March,  1859,  the  "Spirit  of  the  Age"  swept 
over,  and  touched  the  place  with  its  magic  wand 

of  improvement.    Under  its  inspiration  the  now 
19* 


222 


LAKE   OEOKQE 


venerable  stone  building  disappeared,  its  place 
to  l»c  taken  by  the  beautiful  gotliic  St.  Peter's, 
■vvbicli  now  occupies  the  ground. 

Again  the  sacred  remains,  inclosed  by  a 
double  coffin,  were  revealed  to  view,  and  still 
the  two  pieces  of  ribbon  which  bound  his  hair 
together  were  preserved.  Once  more  the  coffin 
was  incdosed  by  another,  and,  by  the  new  gene- 
ration, carefully  and  reverently,  near  the  south- 
west corner  of  the  new  church,  was  placed  in  a 
prepared  receptacle,  there  to  remain  until,  at  the 
bugle  call  at  the  last  reveille,  his  bones  will 
start,  and  his  soul  will  answer  to  the  FINAL 
MUSTER.* 


4 


*  Chancellor  Kont's  Historical  discourpo.  A pfri cultural 
Transactions,  1853.  Winslow  V.  Watson.  Albany  Evening 
Journal,  April,  1859.     Letter  of  Mrs.  Cochran.     Lossinjf. 

No  monument  marks  the  spot  where  Lord  Howe  fell,  or 
where  his  remains  are  deposited.  The  records  of  St.  Peter's 
contain  no  mention  of  the  spot.  Would  it  not  he  appropri- 
ate that  at  least  a  tablet  should  be  placed  within  the  tower 
of  the  church  to  commcmoratt!  tlu^  di'ceased  ?  The  esteemed 
author  of  the  "centennial  address"  suggests,  amonpf  others 
a  momunent  to  Ilendrick,  the  Mohawk  chieftain,  but  he 
strangelv  omits  the  mention  of  one  to  the  memory  of  him 
with  whom  his  family  were  on  such  intimate  terms  of  friend- 
ship. Tr  raise  a  monument  to  the  representative  of  tho 
wild  Indian,  and  omit  to  do  similar  honor  to  the  heroic 
chivalrous  leader  of  the  Anglo-Saxon,  seems  like  raising 
Caliban  to  the  throne  of  Prospero,  the  rightful  heir.      B. 


CHAPTER  X. 


FnOKTENAC  TAKEN  — AMBURII  AT  TUB  rOfU-MII.E  TOHT— AMBUSn  AT 
IIAI.F-WAY  IIUOOK  —  IlOdEIW'  ANO  PUTNAM'H  BATTLK  —  Pl^TNAM 
TAKKN  riUSONKIl  — AMIIKI18T  IN  COMMAND  —  CAMPAKIN  OF  1751)  — 
HALF  THE  AHMY  AT  LAKE  (lEOHOE  —  TIIET  MOVE  ON  TO  CARILLON  — 
FOKT  FUEDEKICK  ABANDONED  — CONCLUSION. 

i^BEKCPvOMlUK,  ^v^tll  "liis  iioav  nsc- 
It'ss"  urniy,  proceeded  to  Ibrtify  liim- 
self  at  Lake  CJeorge.*  Ilis  intrencli- 
iiients  extended  from  the  south  side 
of  the  ro(;ky  eminence  on  a  general  course  about 
north  fifty  degrees  west,  until  they  struck  the 
ravine,  under  Kattlesnake  hill,  near  the  Garri- 
son mill,  and  included  the  lines  known  as  Fort 
Gage.  lie  also  occupied  Diamond  and  Long 
islands,  with  a  guard  of  four  hundred  men  each, 
and  built  a  sloop  of  war  carrying  sixteen  guns. 
The  dashing  C^ol.  Bradstreet  was  detached,  with 
a  force  of  two   thousand  seven   hundred  men, 

*  Bancroft  says:  "  IIo  sent  artillery  and  aniiniinition  to 
Albany  for  pafcty.  But,  per  contra,  they  intrenched  on  the 
ruins  of  Fort  William  Henry,  rctdininy  all  their  artillery 
and  ammunition."    Doc.  x,  819. 

"  Since  the  8th  July,  Abercronibie  has  spent  the  time 
in  fortifyinnr  himself,  and  threateninjf  Carillon  with  a 
second  visit."    Montcalm,  2\st  Sept.,  1758. 


ti. 


it 


\u 


^#1=  i 


224 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


against  Fort  Fronteiicac,  on  Lake  Ontario,  in 
■which  enterprise  he  was  eminently  successful, 
and  after  razing  the  fortress  and  destroying  the 
vessels  and  such  stores  as  could  not  be  brought 
off,  he  returned  to  Lake  George. 

The  French  were  never  idle.  July  IGth,  a 
party  of  twenty  soldiers  and  three  officers  were 
ambushed  by  a  detachment  of  Canadians  and 
Indians.  "  The  impatience  of  the  Indians  pre- 
vented the  detachment  destroying  a  party  of 
three  hundred  English,  who  had  taken  refuge  in 
a  small  stockaded  fori,  lately  erec*^d  to  serve  as 
a  depot,  on  the  Fort  Edward  roadP'^ 

July  30.  A  train  of  fifty-four  wagons,  each 
of  wliich  was  drawn  by  two  yoke  of  oxen,  Avas 
leisurely  proceeding  over  the  road  to  Lake 
George,  escorted  by  a  lieutenant  and  forty  men. 
The    wagons  were    loaded  with    flour,   pork, 

■*  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  this  fort  is  the  one  located  on 
Isaac  Smith's  farm,  about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  below  Brown's 
Half-way  house.  The  last  of  the  pickets  was  visible  in  1845  ; 
but  the  ground  has  since  been  industriously  plowed  over, 
and  is  now  nearly  obliterated.  There  were  two  forts,  one 
here,  and  the  other  at  the  seven-mile  post,  which  was  at  the 
Half-way  brook.  The  latter  was  built,  by  Col.  Grant,  the 
year  following,  as  will  be  seen.  I  find  the  following  French 
references:  August  1.  A  deserter  re{X)rts  that  they  have 
seven  hundred  men  at  the  Half-way  depot.  Doc.  x,  850. 
September  29.  An  English  deserter  reports  he  left  six  thou- 


LAZE   CHAMPLAIN. 


225 


liquors,  effects,  merchandise,  and  some  baggage 
belonging  to  Gen.  Abercrombie,  among  which 
was  his  music.  They  were  also  accompanied 
by  sutlers,  traders,  w^omen  and  children.  Near 
Half-way  brook  they  were  attacked  by  M.  de 
La  Come,  commanding  a  body  of  four  hundred 
Canadians  and  Indians,  who  killed  the  oxen, 
two  hundred  and  thirty  in  number,  knocked  in 
the  liquor  bai'rels,  and  pillaged  and  burnt  the 
wagons.  La  Corne  secured  one  hundred  and 
ten  scalps,  and  took,  including  the  officers, 
eighty-four  prisoners,  of  whom  twelve  were 
women  or  girls.*  On  the  receipt  of  the  news 
of  this  attack  Abercrombie  sent  out  a  detach- 
ment of  five  hundred  men,  commanded  by 
Majors  Rogers  and  Putnam,  to  intercept  the 
French  at  South  Bay.  But  they  were  too  late, 
and  La  Corne  reached  Carillon  in  safety.  Rogera 


sand  at  Fort  George,  eight  hundred  in  the  Entrepot  Fort, 
and  one  thousand  five  hundred  at  Fort  Edward.  Doc.  x, 
855.  It  was  intended  doubtless  to  prevent  a  repetition  of 
the  scenes  of  Johnson's  campaign  of  1755,  of  which  Aber- 
crombie  would  be  likely  to  entertain  a  wholesome  dread. 
It  protected  the  entrance  to  the  Bloody  defile,  and  would 
certainly  prevent  any  large  body  from  planting  an  ambus- 
cade. It  is  curious  that  TryonV  map  locates  this  as  Fort 
Amherst.  But  this  is,  of  course,  a  mistake.  Tne  latter  was 
the  fort  at  Ilalf-way  brook.  (See  page  .) 
*  Bancroft,  Doc.  x,  818. 


226 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


was  on  the  point  of  returning,  when  he  received 
advice  that  M.  iviarin  ^yas  on  liis  way  from 
Carillon  with  a  detachment  of  five  hnndred 
men,  and  was  ordered  to  scout  down  toward 
Fort  Edward.  The  divisions,  which  had  become 
separated,  one  having  gone  over  to  "Wood  creek, 
were  now  ordered  to  reunite,  and  measures  were 
concerted  to  withdraw  as  directed.  The  com- 
mand moved  in  three  columns ;  two  led  by 
Rogers  and  Putnam,  respectively,  *and  the  third 
by  Capt.  Dalyell.  At  evening  they  encamped 
on  Clear  river,  about  a  mile  west  of  Fort  Ann. 
The  next  morning  Rogers  anmsed  himself  by 
firing  at  a  mark  with  one  of  his  ofiicers. 

At  this  time  Marin  was  but  a  mile  and  a 
half  distant,  and  by  means  of  the  firing  was 
enabled  to  place  himself  in  an  ambuscade  foi 
them.  The  engagement  took  place  about  seven 
o'clock  A.  M.,  Aug.  8th.  Marin  put  in  two  vol- 
leys, which  caused  the  provincials  to  waver. 
Putnam  halted  and  returned  the  fire.  Dalyell's 
detachment  came  up  and  supported  him.  Rogers 
made  a  detour  toward  Wood  creek,  in  order,  as 
he  said,  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  passing  in 
that  direction  and  falling  upon  their  rear.  The 
men,  scattered  behind  trees,  maintained  their 
ground,  there  being  little  distinction  between 
officers  and  privates. 


LAKE  CIIAMPLAIN. 


227 


As  Putnam  thus  stood  fighting,  a  powerful 
Indian,  tomahawk  in  hand,  sprung  upon  him. 
His  musket,  hehl  to  the  very  breast  of  tlie  sav- 
age, missed  fire.  The  latter  immediately  bound 
him  to  a  tree,  and  left  him  there,  to  mingle 
again  in  the  fight.  A  young  brave  passing  by, 
took  deliberate  aim,  and  hurled  his  tomahawk 
directly,  to  appearance,  at  the  head  of  the  cap- 
tive. It  barely  missed  its  mark,  and  stuck  in 
the  tree,  the  handle  quivering  in  the  face  of  the 
prisoner.  A  second  and  third  time  he  repeated 
the  experiment,  till  it  became  apparent  he  was 
merely  amusing  himself  at  the  expense  of  the 
captive,  and  did  not  intend  to  hit  him.  At 
length  he  retired. 

The  engagement  continued  for  about  one 
hour,  when  the  Americans  proved  victorious, 
and  Marin  withdrew,  taking  with  him  some 
prisoners,  including  Putnam,  whose  hands  were 
tied,  his  shoes  and  stockings  taken  off,  and  his 
back  loaded  down  with  the  packs  of  the  Indi- 
ans. At  night  .they  stripped  him,  bound  him 
to  a  tree,  and  prepared  to  roast  him ;  but  a 
shower  extinguished  the  fire.  At  length  the 
flames  caught  and  began  to  wreath  and  crackle 
and  shoot  up  their  spiral  folds  aroimd  him, 
while  the  Indians  danced  and  sung  and  filled 
the  forest  with  their  discordant  yells.     At  that 


fl  ■■! 


(I 

,  h 


vr 


V   -li 


«« 


liij. 


i  1  i 


228 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


moment  the  commander,  who  had  just  arrived, 
seeing  tlie  entertainment  to  whicli  his  savage 
allies  had  invited  themselves,  dashed  in,  and, 
scattering  the  fire-brands,  released  the  victim.* 

Marin  returned  to  Carillon  with  his  prisoners, 
who  were  forwarded  to  Montreal,  and  the  suc- 
ceeding winter,  through  the  agency  of  Col. 
Schuyler,  of  the  New  Jersey  regiment,  Major 
Putnam  was  exchanged. 

The  news  of  the  disaster  at  Carillon  soon 
reached  Lord  Amherst,  now  the  conqueror  of 
Louisburg.  He  immediately,  without  ordere, 
embarked  with  four  regiments,  and  a  battalion 
of  tlie  Royal  Americans,  for  Boston.  They 
landed  in  September,  and  at  once  marched 
through  the  woods  to  Albany.  Amherst  has- 
tened to  Lake  George,  where  he  arrived  on  the 
fifth.  On  the  third  of  November,  Abercrombie 
was  recalled  and  returned  to  England,  and  Lord 
Amherst  was  appointed  commander-in-chief  in 
his  place.  The  season  was  too  far  advanced  for 
offensive  operations.  The  intcenchments  were 
therefore  abandoned,  the  barges  conveyed  to 
Fort  Edward,  and  sent  down  the  river,  the 
sloops  scuttled  and  sunk,  some  of  the  guns 
buried,  and  the  army  retired  into  winter  quar- 

*  Bancroft ;  Fitch ;  Headley.  r 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIN. 


229 


ters,  at  Albany,  Schenectady,  New  York,  and 
Virginia.  Eight  hundred  men  were  left  at  the 
lake,  fifteen  hundred  at  Fort  Edward,  and  one 
hundred  and  fifty  men  at  Fort  Miller.* 

Tlie  seventh  army  for  the  conquest  of  Canada 
commenced  assembling  at  Albany,  for  the  final 
movement,  on  the  fir  *-  of  March,  1759.  It  wa? 
composed  of  the  1st,  17th,  27th  (Inniskillings), 
42(1,  55th,  77th  and  80th  regulars,  and  the  pro- 
vincial regiments  of  Schuyler,  Lyman,  Kuggles, 
Whiting,  Worcester,  Fitch,  Babcock,  Lovevvell, 
and  W^illard,  and  a  detachment  of  artillery 
under  the  command  of  Major  Ord.  Four  hun- 
dred bateaux  awaited  the  troops  at  Ilalf-moon 
(Waterford). 

May  29th.  A  detachment,  under  command 
of  Major  West,  composed  of  regulars,  light- 
inftmtry,  provincials  and  rangers,  moved  up  and 
took  post  on  the  road  from  Fort  Edward  to  Lake 
George,  and  there  constructed  a  small  stockaded 


*  While  lying  in  his  canoe,  near  this  place,  Putnam 
found  liimsr'lf  suddenly  surrounded  by  a  party  of  Indians. 
There  was  no  outlet  of  escape  from  being  shot,  except  by 
"  shootinor  the  rapids."  To  attempt  this  seemed  certain 
death,  yet  he  boldly  turned,  and,  to  the  amazement  of  the 
savages,  as  they  saw  his  boat  whirled  amid  the  foaming 
eddies  and  the  rocks,  he  steered  his  frail  craft  safely 
through. 

20 


rl 


230 


LAKE   OEOEQE   AND 


fort,  with  two  bastions  and  a  moat.*  The 
movement  of  the  army  had  ah'eady  commenced. 
The  advance  was  imder  the  command  of  Col. 
Ilavihxnd.  June  1.  The  IlighLinders  moved 
lip  to  Ilalf-moon,  and  took  charge  of  the  artil- 
lery, which,  with  the  supplies,  went  np  hy  water, 
and  on  the  sixth  they  went  into  camp  at  Fort 
Edward.  Gen.  Gage  remained  at  Albany,  to 
bring  up  the  heavy  stores.  As  the  troops  arrived 
at  Fort  Ed>^'ard  they  were  placed  in  camp  in 
the  positioi.s  assigned  to  them  in  order  of  battle, 
the  first  and  second  brigades  being  in  the  cen- 
ter, the  grenadiers  and  light-infantry  from  right 
to  left,  according  to  seniority,  and  the  flanks 
composed  of  the  provincials. 

All  sutlers  who  had  passes  and  were  not 
attached  to  regiments,  were  encamped  on  the 
ground  in  the  center  of  the  army,  and  a  market 
was  kept  there  for  selling  whatever  they  might 
bring  for  the  use  of  the  army. 

Colonel  Ilaviland  remained  at  his  camp,  oppo- 
site Fort  Miller. 

l-4th.  The  Highlanders,  with  a  detachment  of 
500  provincials  under  Lieut. -Col.  Paysan,  and 
two  six-pounders,  the  whole    commanded 


by 


*  Knox's  Journal.    This  was  probably  at  the  four-mile 
post  below  Brown's. 


LAKE   CIIAMTLAIN, 


231 


Col.  Grant,  moved  out  to  ITalf-way  l3rook,  and 
built  a  stockade  there,  known  as  Fort  Amherst. 
Captain  Stark,  with  a  company  of  rangers  from 
the  four-mile  post,  and  a  company  of  Indians, 
was  ordered  to  join  them.* 

The  same  day  the  General  was  pleased  to 
approve  the  following  sentences  of  court-mar- 
tial :  Andrew  Yates,  1,000  lashes  with  a  cat- 
o'-nine-tails ;  John  Ilalfworth,  500  lashes ; 
Thomas  Smith,  1,000  lashes  ;  Samuel  Pearce, 
1,000  lashes.  "  Smith  is  to  receive  his  in  the 
foUowinij;  manner:  at  12  m.  he  is  to  he  marched 
by  a  prov'ost  to  the  right  of  the  line,  and  is  to 
receive  100  lashes  at  the  head  of  each  regiment. 
A  mate  of  the  hospital  will  attend  to  the  pun- 
ishment." 

15tli.  The  55th  regiment,  together  with  fif- 
teen pieces  of  the  royal  artillery,  moved  up  this 
day  to  the  seven-mile  post,  and  reported  to  Col. 
Grant.  * 

18th.  The  first  battalion  of  the  Massachusetts 
moved  up  to  Half-way  brook,  taking  with  tliem 
a  largo  convoy  of  provisions,  bateaux  and 
stores. 

19th.  Jhe  Royal,  -with  the  New  Jersey  regi- 
ment and  Connecticut  troops,  marched  to  the 


I 


M 


i'r 


*  Wilson's  Orderly  Book,  p.  24.     Knox. 


232 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


Bcven-mile  post  under  the  command  of  Colonel 
Forster.  Thence  they  proceeded,  with  tlie 
addition  of  two  field-pieces,  a  company  of 
rangers  and  some  Indians,  and  took  post  about 
tln-ee  miles  this  side  of  Lake  George,  where  the 
Colonel  proceeded  to  clear  tlie  ground,  throw 
np  an  intrenchment  and  fortify  it  with  the 
trees  that  were  felled.*  Eiglit  hundred  men 
were  detailed  for  mending  the  roads. 

21st.  This  day  the  stockade  at  the  seven-mile 
post  was  iinished.  Lieut.-Col.  Paysan  remained 
in  command,  with  1,000  provincials  and  seven 
field-pieces.  Provisions,  bateaux  and  whale- 
boats  continued  td  arrive  at  this  point,  which 
the  Colonel  was  very  alert  in  forwarding  to  the 
lake.  The  weather  was  intolerably  hot,  and 
the  teams  could  scarcely  perform  their  duty. 
The  same  day  Gen.  Amherst  moved  up  with  the 
bulk  of  the  army  to  the  lake,  and  encamped  on 
its  woody  banks.  The  next  day  he  traced  out 
the  plan  of  Fort  George. 

27th.  Some  boats  of  the  enemy  appeared  on 
the  lake  near  Diamond  island,  and  attempted 
to  surprise  a  couple  of  officers  who  were  fishing 
there,  but  did  not  succeed. 

*  Knox. 


LAKE   CIIAMPLAIN. 


233 


ana 
luty. 
I  the 
(d  on 
[  out 


<1  on 
ii>ted 


sliin 


or 


July  1.  The  sloop  of  war  Halifax,  which  was 
scuttled  last  year,  was  raised.  The  troops  were 
employed  in  constructing  the  stone  fortress,* 
"  which  is  of  an  irregular  form,  situated  upon 
a  rock ;  has  one  front  to  the  lake,  and  a  large 
morass  on  the  other  sides.  A  casemate  is  to  ])e 
built  sufficient  for  400  men,  and  there  is  plenty 
of  good  limestone  and  brick-clay  on  the  spot." 
Sixteen  men  of  the  Xew  Jersey  regiment  went, 
without  leave,  on  the  west  side  of  the  camp,  to 
cut  spruce.  About  a  mile  out  they  were 
attacked  by  a  party  of  Canadians  and  Indians, 
who  killed  and  wounded  eleven  of  them ;  the 
rest  escaped. 

4th.  The  engineers  made  great  progress  with 
the  fort,  having  obtained  a  new  supply  of  brick- 
layers and  masons.  A  number  of  men  were 
employed  in  making  brick  and  lime.  The  men 
were  doily,  at  5  a.  m.,  ])racticed  at  target  liring, 
and  "  the  camp  was  not  to  be  alarmed  at  the 
firing  here  or  at  the  four-mile  post,  where  they 
will  fire  at  the  same  hour." 

Gth.  Capt.  Loring,  of  the  navy,  in  addition  to 
raising  and  rigging  the  sloop  Halifax,  also  built 
a  raft  to  carry  nine  twelve-pounders. 


*  Fort  George.    The  fort  was  never  finished. 
20* 


I 


234 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


21.  Lord  Amherst  embarlvcd  witli  the  troops. 
Tlie  force  consisted  of  six  battalions  of  regnhirs, 
numbering,  officers  included,  5,743  men,  nine 
regiments  of  provincials,  comprising  5,279  men, 
nnd  111  of  tlie  royal  artillery,  -with  fifty-four 
pieces  of  ordnance  of  various  kinds,  in  all  num- 
bering 11,133.  For  the  last  time  a  great  army 
passed  through  the  lake,  and  on  the  following 
day  they  landed  near  the  spot  where  Aber- 
crombie  had  disembarked  the  year  before. 

The  French  troops  at  Carillon  numbered  two 
thousand  three  hundred  men,  under  the  command 
of  Bourlemaque.  Montcabn  had  withdrawn  the 
flower  of  the  army  to  the  defense  of  Quel)ec. 
lie  met  the  Encjlish  near  the  landinj:,  and 
skirmished  up  to  the  intrenchments.  Amherst 
pressed  on  and  took  up  a  position  at  the  saw- 
mill. Tlie  troops  lay  upon  their  arms  that 
night.  The  same  night  Bourlemaque  aband- 
oned the  fort,  with  the  largest  part  of  his 
army,  and  took  a  position  aliout  ten  miles  down 
Lake  Champlain,  leaving  Hebecourt  and  four 
hundred  men,  with  orders  to  blow  np  the  fort, 
and  retire  as  soon  as  the  English  had  estab- 
lished their  first  batteries. 

23d.  The  grenadiers,  perceiving  the  intrench- 
ments to  be  deserted,  immediately  occupied  them. 
Li  the  center  of  the  works  the  French  had  erected 


LAKE   CIIAMrLAIN. 


235 


a  lofty  cross,  in  celebration  of  the  victory  of  the 
year  before.     On  the  cross  was  affixed  a  plato 
of  brass,  M'ith  the  followinfi^  inscription  : 
"  Pono  principes  eorum  sicut  Oreb  et  Zeber  et  Zulmunna."* 

The  French  received  them  with  a  shower  of 
shot  and  shell,  and  at  night  made  a  sudden 
attack  upon  the  trenches,  killing  and  wounding 
sixteen,  and  caused  such  confusion  that  in  the 
darkness  of  the  night  the  British  troops  lircd 
upon  each  other.  Col.  Townshcnd,  deputy 
adjutant-general,  a  young  and  gallant  officer, 
the  Lord  IIowc  of  the  army,  was  struck  down 
by  a  cannon-shot. 

20th.  The  English  approaches  having  been 
advanced  within  six  hundn  1  yards  of  the  fort, 
and  the  batteries  finished,  llebecourt  retired  with 
the  French,  from  the  contested  walls  of  Caril- 
lon, having  left  every  gun  loaded  and  pointed, 
several  mines  charged  for  the  destruction  of 
the  defenses,  and  a  lighted  fuse  communicating 
with  the  well  stored  powder  magazine,  which 
shortly  blew  up,  with  a  tremendous  explosion. 
The  wooden  barracks,  the  stores,  and  other 
combustible  matter  were  burned.  At  daylight 
the  next  mornino;,  a  sergeant  succeeded  in  strik- 
ing  the  French  flag,  and  raising  that  of  England 

*Sce  Judges  vii,  25,  also,  viii,  12,  and  Ps.  Ixxxiii,  11. 


I\ 


H 


23G 


LAKE   GKORGE   AND 


in  its  ])lacc,  mIucIi  for  tlio  first  time  now  waved 
over  this  gloomy  fortress.  Soon  after  a  detach- 
ment was  sent  in  to  extingnish  tlie  flames,  wliicli 
was  speedily  aceomplitjhed.  Lord  Amherst  set 
to  work  at  once  to  repair  the  fort,  which  was 
comparatively  uninjured.  Most  of  the  ram- 
parts, the  covered  way,  and  the  walls  of  the 
buildings  remained.*  lie  devoted  himself  to 
leveling  his  own  siege  works  and  completing 
the  road  from  the  shore.  The  loss  of  the  Brit- 
ish, in  the  seige,  was  seventy-six  killed  and 
wounded.  The  French  leisurely  retired  to  Fort 
St.  Frederick. 

"  Peace,  peace,  my  Lord,"  writes  Doriel.  "  No 
matter  at  what  sacrifice,  as  regards  boundaries. 
'Twill  be  so  much  gained,  if  the  people  will  only 
work  well  when  it  is  concluded."  But  it  was 
not  to  be.  There  was  to  be  no  peace  until  the 
whole  French  government  in  America  had  sur- 
rendered to  the  Anglo-Saxon. 

Around  Fort  St.  Frederick,  which  for  twenty- 
eifrht  years  had  been  a  menace  and  a  challenc-e 
to  the  English  colonies,  as  far  as  the  eye  could 

*  Mr.  Watson  speaks  of  this  venerable  fortress  as  "  with- 
out assimilation  to  any  thing  in  America,  and  exhibiting 
the  appearance  of  an  ancient  castle  of  Europe,  enveloped  in 
the  mist  of  ago?,  and  surrounded  with  the  associations  of 
centuries." 


LAKE  CIIAMPLAIN. 


237 


oiilv 

b  ^va8 

il  the 

sur- 


enty- 
llcnge 
Icould 


with- 


|)ped 
ions 


lU 

of 


extend,  a  rich  and  beautiful  countiy  met  the 
view.  The  verdant  turf,  and  wheat  growinnj 
iiekk,  extended  fro»T\  the  water's  edjjfe  back  to  the 
base  of  the  mountains,  and  a  popuhition  of  fif- 
teen hundred  people  found  shelter  around  tlie 
fort.  A  town  was  already  built.  They  had  their 
fruit  trees,  their  gardens  and  their  vineyards. 
An  avenue  swept  in  a  wide  curvature  around 
the  margin  of  the  Lake,  beyond  which  lay  the 
princij»al  street,  extending  into  the  country. 
The  cellars  were  excavated  from  the  solid  rock, 
and  theh*  compact  arrangement,  and  the  narrow- 
ness of  the  avenue,  find  their  counterpart  in 
many  an  ancient  village  in  Canada.  The  side- 
walks formed  of  flagging,  the  stones  smooth  and 
worn,  still  attest  the  generation  who  once 
thronged  them  in  the  busy  scenes  of  life.  Aspara- 
gus, shrubs,  and  the  celebrated  Adirondack 
grape  flourished  here.  A  church  stood  within 
the  ramparts,  and  several  stores  furnished  the 
convenient  mart  for  commerce  and  the  profita- 
ble exchange  of  civilized  products  for  peltries. 
Tlie  ambitious  politicians  of  the  day  dreamed  of 
the  time,  subsequently  attempted  under  Amherst 
and  Skeene,  when  a  new  province  might  be 
founded,  extending  from  St.  Lawrence  and  the 
Connecticut,  embracing  the  Green  Mountains 
and  the  Champlain  valley,  witli  Crown  Point  as 


■f  I 


238 


LAKE   GEORGE   AND 


its  capital.  The  seignorics  of  Allan ia  '  !ul  IToc- 
qiiart  had  been  already  laid  out  and  surveyed, 
the  first  extending  down  to  Carillon,  the  latter 
covering  the  fertile  valley  of  Otter  creek.  Had 
this  event  occurred,  Northern  Xew  York  would 
not  now  exhibit  a  vast  expanse  of  uncultivated 
and  unreclaimed  wilderness. 

Ilegiochnc*  was  the  recognized  boundary  be- 
tween the  Mohawk  hunting  grounds  and  those 
conceded  to  the  St.  Lawrence  Indians.  Had 
the  French  confined  themselves  to  the  country 
above  this  well  established  point,  it  is  evident 
that  the  boundarv  line  of  Xcw  York  and  Canada 
would  have  been  the  parallel  of  latitude  extend- 
ing through  from  this  point  to  Wells  river,  on 
the  Connecticut ;  and  on  the  west  to  the  Thou- 
sand Isles,  opposite  to  Frontenac ;  and  at  this 
day  the  magnificent  jirovince  of  Canada  would 
doubtless  have  been  preserved  as  the  most 
illustrious  jewel  of  the  French  empire.  But 
imbecility  ruled  the  hour;  and  from  the  time 
when  the  order  was  given  for  an  army  of 
occupation  to  possess  Fort  St.  Frederick,  the 
doom  of  Canada  was  sealed. 

Deep  was  the  sorrow^  of  the  Canadians  when 
they  abandoned  forever  that  lovely  land,  adorned 


*Doc.  vii,  570. 


mmmm 


LAKE   CIIx\MPLAIN. 


239 


Ittl 


lis 


rould 

most 

But 


tunc 


f\y 


of 


k,  the 


^v 


hen 
horned 


by  their  taste  and  industry,  rescued  by  tlieni 
from  the  dominion  of  the  woh"  and  the  bear, 
strcngtiienod  by  their  skill  and  toil,  defended  by 
their  best  blood,  and  endeared  to  their  gallant 
hearts  by  memories  of  glorious  victories.  But 
it  was  impossible  to  resist  the  overwhelming 
advancing  force.  Their  barges  were  therefore 
loaded,  and  the  mournful  procession  moved 
down  the  lake  into  the  narrows,  until,  in  round- 
ing Regio  Itock,  for  the  last  time  and  for- 
ever, their  count'  /  disappeared  from  their  view. 
The  French  retired  to  Isle  au  Noix,  where, 
with  one  hundred  pieces  of  cannon,  thirty-live 
hundred  men,  and  four  armed  vessels,  com- 
manded by  naval  officers  and  a  picked  crew, 
they  presented  an  impregnable  fronton  the  very 
threshold  of  Canada. 

Meanwhile  Major  Bogers  was  sent  forward 
with  two  hundred  rangers,  to  feel  of  the  enemy 
and  seize  upon  some  safe  position,  which  he 
was  to  hold  until  relieved  by  the  advancing 
army. 

August  4.  Lord  Andierst  arrived  and  took 
possession  of  Fort  St.  Frederick  with  its  guns, 
stores  and  intrenching  tools.  A  portion  of  the 
works  had  been  blown  up  three  days  before  by 
the  retreating  French.  After  encamping  his 
troops,  he   proceeded,   in   accordance  with   his 


m^HMMaW 


ri  ill 


240 


LAKE    GKORGE. 


instructions  from  Pitt,  to  trace  out  and  build  ti 
new  fort,  to  be  in  future  time  known  as  Ckown 
Point,  "  which,  from  its  situation  and  strengtli, 
will  most  effectually  cover  the  whole  country, 
and  insure  its  quiet  and  peaceable  possession." 
Although  never  completed,  this  fort  is  said  to 
have  cost  the  English  government  more  than 
two  millions  of  pounds  sterling.  The  ramparts 
were  about  twenty-iive  fee!;  thick  and  nearly  the 
same  in  height,  and  were  built  of  solid  masonry. 
The  curtains  varied  in  Icngtli,  from  fifty-two  to 
one  hundred  vards :  and  the  whole  circuit, 
measuring  around  the  ramparts  and  including 
the  bastions,  was  eight  hundred  and  fifty-three 
yards.  A  broad  ditch  surrounded  the  work. 
On  the  north  was  a  gate,  and  from  the  north- 
east bastion  a  covered  way  leading  to  the  water. 
But  the  glory  of  Crown  Point  is  departed. 
The  cattle  ruminate  in  its  bastion,  sheep  feed 
upon  its  walls,  and  the  wild  grape  may  be 
plucked  from  the  ruins  of  its  magazine. 

"  There  is  ffiven, 
Unto  the  thinjjs  of  earth  which  timf:  hath  hent, 
A  spirit's  feelinjif,  and,  where  he  liath  leant 
His  hand,  i)ut  broke  liis  scytlie,  then;  is  a  power 
And  mapfic  in  the  ruined  batth'nient, 
For  which  the  palace  of  the  present  hour, 
Must  yield  its  pomp,  and  wait  till  ajjes  are  its  dower." 


!i 


)uild  ti 

eiigtli, 
iiintry, 
ssioii." 
>aid  to 
J  til  an 
iiparts 
['\y  the 
sonry. 
two  to 
ircuit, 
liidiiii^ 
,'-tlirec 
work, 
north- 
water. 
)arted. 
\)  feed 
I  ay  be 


'm 


isos.      LAKE     GEORGE.       iso©. 


FORT  WILLIAM  HENRY  HOTEL 

IS  OPEN  rOR  THE  RECEPTION  OF  GUESTS- 


This  Hotel  is   situated   on    the   site    of  Fort   WilHam 
Henry,  adjoining  Fort  George  and  the  old  French 
Burying  and  Battle  Grounds.     The  House  is  fur- 
nished in  k  style  not  surpassed  by  any  City  Hotel. 
The  building    is  337   feet  in  length,  with 
rear  wing  of  250  feet. 

The  RoOins  arc  airy,  large,  and  in 
Suites  or  Private  Parlors,  as  may  be  desired. 

Water  is  carried  to  every  part  of  the  Ilouae,  which  is  supplied  with 

COLD  AND  WARM   BATHS. 

The  Public  Parlor  is  7S  by  4-2  feet,  fronting  on  the  Lake,  brilliantly 
lighted  with  gas  made  on  the  premises. 

A  Celelratei  Baui  is  EiiMei  for  tie  Season. 

Lake  George  is  celebrated  for  its  flnc  Trout.  Oswego  Bass,  Pickerel  and 
other  flsh,  which  are  serve  J  up  daily  at  this  Hotel. 

A  LIVERY  STABLE  IS  COX.NEi  TED  WITH  THE  HOTEL, 

together  with  an  abundance  of  stable  and  barn  room. 

Persona  wishing  to  bring  their  horses  and  carriages  can  have  private 
stablos  and  carruige  houses.  Tlie  drives  on  the  lake  shore  and 
through  the  surrounding  country  are  unsurpassed. 

Telegraph  in  the  Hotel  connecting  with  all  lines 
through  the  State. 

DANIEL  GALE,  Proprietor. 


i 

1  '1 

:l 

O   U 


(U 


o  -c 


H 
w 


ft 
o 

(5: 


CO  o 

o  P^ 


LAKE    GEORGE. 


LAKE  HOUSE. 


o 

■•-» 

0) 

P. 

o 


o 

w 
o 

!-^  2 

O  Pi 


w 


AS  A  SUMMER  RESORT  FOR 

Families,  Pleasnre  Seekers  aiii  Sprlsineu, 

t  NO  PLACE  WILL  COMPARE  WITH 

XjJLKIE     O-EOK/OE! 

For  its  magniflcent  scenery,  thn  purity  of  its  water,  its  cool,  invig- 
orating air,  and  its  superb  Iluntiuj,'  and  Fisliinjj  Urounds. 

THE  LAKE  HOUSE 

Contains  over  One  Hundred  Rooms  and  Private  Parlors,    It  lias  been 

put  in  coinpk'to  order  for  tlie  Suninivr,  and  the 

guest  will  Hud  hero  every  comfuit. 

THE    STEAMER    MINNEHAHA 

Leaves  tlie  Lake  Ilouee  Pock  every  morning  at  8 
o'clock,  for  Ticonderoga. 

Stages  leave  the  Lake  nouso  each  day,  connectinc:  at  Moreau  Sta- 
tion with  trains  for  Saratoga.  Troy.  Albany,  New  York  and  Boston. 
The  House  is  constantly  supplied  with 

Brook  Trout,  "Venison  and  Birds  in  their  Season, 
And  the  proprietor  will  be  at  all  times  prepared  to  furnish 

GAME  DINNERS  AND   SUPPERS    TO   PARTIES. 

(iAKK  l)I\XKRS  AT  TAULK  D'llOTK  ON  Hl'MIAYS. 

Board  per  W^eek,  Sl<t  to  $17.GO. 


HIRAM  J.  ROCKWELL, 

Proprietor. 


GLENS  FALLS,  LAKE  GEORGE  AND  CHESTER 

STAGE  COMPANY. 

New  Coaches  and  Equipments,  Fast  Horses. 
LAKE  GEORGE  PASSENGERS 

Who  take  this  route  will  leave  the  Railroad  at 

MOREAXJ    STATION, 

And  puB^ing  over  the  Flankroad,  will  witnces  the  exquisite  river 

scenery  of 

G-LENS  FALLS, 

So  graphically  dcHcribod  in  Cooper's  "  Last  of  the  Mohicans;" 
The  scenes  of  the  Border  Coullicts  iu  the 

^Id.   3P*xroxxclx  "War, 

And  across  the  battle  ground  of 

DIESKAU  AND  SIR  WILLIA3[  JOHNSON. 

The  Stages  connect  with  the  three  trains  going  North,  and  the 
Mid-day  and  Evening  trains  going  South. 

The  morning  line  also  runs  to 
WARIIENSBURGII,  CHESTER,  rOTTERSYILLE,  SCIIROOX  LAKE. 

From  which  places  good  Liveries  are  always  in  readiness 
to  carry  passengers  to  the 

ADIRONDACKS,  LONG  LAKE,  RAQUETTE  LAKE  AKD 
MOUNT  TAHAWAS. 


E.  PUTNAM,  Superintendent. 


LAKE    GEORGE. 


THE  STEAMER 


(( 


? 


L5^ 


S9 


«U4 


AKE. 


AND 


it. 


Capt.  E.  S.  HARRIS, 

MAKES  DAILY  TRIPS  THROUGH  THE  LAKE. 

connecting  with  iho  boats  on 

Lake    Champlain    for    Montreal,    Quebec,   Niagara, 

White  and   Franconia  Mountains, 

Mount  Mansfield, 

and  theRail\v.iy  to 

SARATOGA,  TROY,  ALBANY  and  NEW  YORK. 

THE 

''MINXE-HA-IIA^' 

Leaves   her  dock,  at  Caldwell,  every  morning,  Sundays  <  xceptcd, 

at  ?>/  o'clock— steams  down  the  I^ike  among  the  islands, 

and  through  to  Ticonderoga,  connecting  with 

LAKE    CHAMPLAIN    STEAMERS  : 

aOINO  NORTU  AND  SOUTH, 

Rctnrning  in  the  afternoon  upon  the  arrival  of  the  rake  Champlafn 
Steamers,  arriving  at  her  dock  at  the  Fort  William  Ilcnry  Hotel  at  6 
o'clock,  P.  M. 

Passengers  by  the  HUDSON  KIVER  and  HARLEM  RAILROADS 
(four  trains  daily),  and  by  the  DAY  BOATS,  arrive  at  the  Lake  in  time 
for  Tea  same  day;  by  the  HUDSON  RIVER  STEAMERS  (night  boats,) 
In  time  for  Dinner  next  day. 


LAKE    GEORGE. 


MuMDatx  J|luu$B^ 


BOLTOn^. 


Tins  well  known  House  is  situated  on 

GANOUSKIE  OR  NOETHWEST  BAY, 

TEN  MILES  FROM  CALDWELL. 

'  Affords  Accommodation  for  Sixty  People. 
Situate  opposite  the 

;And  its  location  is  the  most  delightful  upon  the  Lake. 


S.  W.  CLEMAN8, 


Proprietor. 


LAKE  GEORGE. 


THE 


fr.  J 


ICONDEROGA 


]^o 


USE 


AT 


TICOJVTDEEOGA 


HAS    RECENTLY    BEEN    REFITTED, 


AND  19 


->'7  ,S- 


IsTO^W  OIPEInT 


For   the    Reception    of    Guests. 


R.  C.  JENKINS,  Proprietor, 


LAKE  GEORGE. 


BROWN'S  HAU-WAV  HOUSE. 

ViHltorB  at 

LAKE    GEORGE, 

By  driving  down  to  » 

FOUB  MILES  ON  THE  FLANKROAD, 

Will  pass  the  buttle  ground  of 

Gen's  Johnson  and  Dieskau,  Bloody  Pond,  and 

Eocky  Brook, 

The  place  of  the  ambuscade  and  death  of 

COL  WILLIAMS  AND  KING  HKNDIUCK,  IN  SKPT.,  1755. 

They  can  also  visit  the  place  of  the 

STOCKADE  AT  THE  FOUR  MILE  POST, 

Built    by   Abercrombie,    in    1758, 

And  the  scene  of  an  Engagement  and  Capture 

BY  THE  FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  IN  THE  SAME  YEAB, 

The  works  of  the 

ALBANY  PEAT  COMPANY, 

In  Bucceeeful  operation,  can  also  be  seen  ;  and  by  driving  to  the 

Ooniliig;  Oro  Itocl, 

Abont  ft  mile  distant,  persons  may  witness  the  interesting 
process  of 

SINKING    A.    SIIAira\ 

Refreshments  of  all  kinds  at  the  Hotel,  and  dinners  tor  parties  got- 
ten up  at  very  short  notice. 

GEORGE  BROWN,  Proprietor. 


NORTHERN  NEW  YORK. 


FOR    SALE! 


3S.a[EItnia-'T    «Sc    ©"WEEX'S 


MAP  OF  THE 

GREAT    WILDERNESS 


OP 


NORTHERN  NEW  YORK. 
Engraved  on  Stone  in  the  Finest  Style, 

AND  rUINTED  FOH  CONVENIENCE  IN  TUIHTY-SIX  SECTIONS. 

Together  with  a  Leather  Case  for  holding  the  same. 


Also  in  preparation  a  new  and 


TEIGONOMETEIOAL  MAP  OF  LAKE  GEOEGE 


WEED,  PARSONS  &  CO., 

ALBANY,  N.  Y. 


I.  f 


PLATTSBURGH,    NEW    YORK. 


FOUPUET'S  HOTEIi. 


This  Hotel  is  partirulnrly  desirable  for  a  Summer  Resort. 
Situated  upon  the  banks  of 

LAKiE  OHi^nyciPiL,  A. I isr. 

Its  broad  piazzas  offer  beautiful  views  of 

CUiMBERLAND  CAY, 

Celebrated  as  the  scene  of  the 

Naval  Engagement  of  1814, 

While  from  the  Promenade  on  the  roof  a  fine  view  can  be  obtainedf, 
including  the  village,  the  surrounding  country,  and  in  the  diatauce  the 

GKEEN  MOUNTAINS  AND  THE  ADIRONDAOKS, 

Which  together  with  the  pure  water,  the  beautiful  Flower,  Pleasure 
and  Croouet  Groimdn;  tlie  i)lcasaut  drivcf  ;  the  Fpacioun  and  well 
ventilated  rooms,  offer  attractions  to  the  bceker  afttr  health  and  pleas- 
ure that  cannot  be  surpassed. 


A  new  and  spacious 

XjIVKRY    SXu^BLK 

In  connection  with  the  Hotel,  affords  ample  accommodations  to  per- 
sons wishing  to  bring  w'th  them  their  horses  and  carriages. 

A  STEAM  FERRY 

Will  make  daily  trips  between  Pi.attsbi'rch  and  St.  Albaks  Bat, 
passing  between  Noum  and  South  IIepo  Islands,  and  touching  at 
the  best  Ashing  localities  there  are  to  be  found  on  Lake  Cuamplain. 

Sportsmen 

En-route,  for  the  AniRONDACKs  will  find  private  conveyances  nt 
Pi,ATTSBi!iU)ii  to  take  them  to  Paul  Ssiith's,  Mii.ote  Baker's.  Mar- 
tin's. ViRoii.  Bartlett's  and  other  forest  resorts,  at  as  lo>v  rntee  as 
are  offered  on  auy  other  route. 

D.  L.  FOUQUET  &  SON, 

Proprietors. 


LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 


LAKE  CHAirPLALV 


ADIRONDACK, 
CANADA,        -      - 

UNITED  STATES, 
MONTREAL, 


Capt.  Wm.  H.  Flagg. 
Capt.  Wm.  Anderson. 
Capt.  J.  C.  Babbitt. 
Capt.  Henry  Mayo. 


Make  close  connections  for 

LAKE    GEORGE, 

Mount  Mansfield,  White  and  Franconia  Mountains, 
Montreal,  Ogdensburgh,  Quebec, 

SARiVJSTAC  AJStTf  CHAZY  LAKES, 

ADIEONDAOK  MOUNTAINS, 


AND  TUB 


The  day  boat  enables  the  tourist  to  see  Plattsburffh 
Cumberland  Bay  — the  scene  of  McDonoujrJi's  victory  in 
1814-Barlington,  Regio  Rock  (Split  Rock),  Kanondoro  (tJie 
Narrows),  Ogharonde  (Windmill  Point),  Point  au  Cheva- 
luro  (Crown  Point),  Carillon  (Ticonderoga).  Mt.  Defiance 
Canaghsione,  (The  Two  Rocks).  Putnam's  Rock  (Fiddler's 
Jiilbow),  places  renowned  in  American  History.    Connects  at 

WHITEHALL 

with  Morning  and  Evening  Trains  on  the  Great  Southern 
and  Western  route  for  all  parts. 


O.  C.  miTCHELL.,  Supt., 

Burlington,  Vt. 


ADIRONDACK  RAILWAY. 


strangers   should   not  leave   Saratoga   before   they 
have  taken  a  trip  on  the  Adirondack  Railway  to 


A  DISTANCE  OF  TWENTY  MILES, 
And  view  for  themselves  its  romantic  scenery  including  the 

Kayaderosseras    Mountain,  the  "  Potash,"    Constitu- 
tion Hill,   Phelps  Bay,  the  Sacandaga   Rapids, 
the  High  Bridge,    lOO  feet  above  the 
water,   Jessup's    Little    Falls, 
and  the  romantic 


EXCURSION  TRAINS 

Leave  Saratoga  Springs  daily  at  10  o'clock,  a.  m. 
and  7.30  p.  m.  Returning,  leave  Luzerne  daily  at  6 
o'clock  a.  m.  and  3  o'clock  p.  M.,  connoctng  with  trains 
North  and  South  on  the  Rensselaer  and  Saritosra  Railroad. 


THE  ADIRONDACK  EXPRESS 

Runs  daily  between  Saratoga  and  iutermc  diate  places  to 

Luzerne. 

S.  M.  SEYMOUR,  Superintendent. 


<. 


are   they 
way  to 


uding  the 

Constltu- 

lapids, 

e 


LUZERNE,    NEW    YORK. 

This  Hotel  is  situated  among  the  rugged  bills  of 

NORTHERN  NEW  YORK. 

It  has  accommodations  for  about  one  hundred  people. 
FISH  AND  GAME  DIIVNERS 

Maj  be  relied  on  at  all  times  in  their  season. 


FiiTE  nsHirra-  -a.ttid  BOA.TirTa-, 


k,    A.    M. 

ily  at  6 
;li  trains 
lailroad. 


ON  THK 

HUDSON  AND  SAOANDAGA  EIVEES, 

and  on  the  celebrated 

I^AKK    OF    I^UZERIVE. 

Only  twenty  miles  from  Saratoga  Spiungs  and  ten  miles 
from  Lake  Qeouge. 


places  to 


ident. 


June,  18G8. 


aBOROB  B.  ROCKWfiZiXi, 

Proprietor. 


vmtvz  mz  op  steamers, 


BETWEEN 


NEW  YORK    AND    ALBANY. 


Leaves  Pier,  foot  of  Canal  Street,  New  York,  Daily, 
except  Sundays,  at  6  o'clock  P.  M. 


Captain  S.  R.  Roe, 

Leaves    Albany,    Mondays,    Wednesdays    and    Fridays. 


S  T  E  .A.  Ivdl  IH  I^    ST.    J-QJEJUSTj 
Captain  W.  H.  Christopher, 


Leaves  Albany,  Tuesdays,  Thursdays  and  Saturdays,  at 

8  o'clock  P.  M. 


Cloao  Connections  made  with  tlio  Rensselaer  and  Sara- 
toga Railroad  at  Albany,  to  and  from  Saratoija,  Lake 
George,  Luzerne,  White  Mountains  and  Adirondacks. 


BAGGAGE  CHECKED  THROUGH.  PASSENGERS  CARRIED  TO  BOATS  FREE. 


J.  W.  HAROOURT,  Agent. 


Mr 


SARATOGA    SPRINGS. 


THE 


,  Daily, 


^'ridays. 
rdays,  at 


nd  Sara- 
ra,  Lake 
;k8. 


ATS  FREE. 


Agent. 


^LAi^ENDON    Hotel 


IS  NOW 


OPEN  FOR  THE  SEASON. 

No  pains  have  been  spared  to  make  tl.is  well  known  Hotel 

perfect  in  every  respect. 

CHARJ^ES    E.    I.ELAT«fr>„ 

Proprietor. 


WASHINGTON    SPUING. 

thJ 'VrlKN^Z^^^^^  -  ^^  ^-o-cls  of 

years  occupied  a  i)roSent   Zl^'  '"''''"  ^'l^'^  ^'^^^^  («0) 
waters  of  Saratoga  ^         ^""'""^  *^^  celebrated 

deli..htful  and  InV\'i^^t1ng tv^rage.  ^"^^^'^^  ^^^:^^^^'  ^^  ^^  ^ 

Put  up  in  Pint  Bottles  only,  and  carefully  packed  in 
cases  of  four  dozen  each  for  shippfng 


CHARLES  E.  lELAND, 


Proprietor. 


IP 


!I!H 


i 


•'I ! 


SARATOGA    SPRINGS. 

AMERICAN  HOTEL, 

BROAD  W^AY. 


The  undersigned  has  spared  no  pains  or  expense 
to  make  the 

AMERICAN 
•A.    FIB.ST     CIj-A^SS    HOXJSB, 

worthy  of  a  continued  and  increased  patronage. 

IT  IS  OPEiq-  ALL  THE  YEAR. 

THE  AMERICAN 

Is  one  of  the  most  convenient  and  centrally  located 
Hotels  at  Saratoga. 

It  is  only  a  few  rods  from  the  depot,  directly  opposite  the 
Post  Office,  and  but  a  few  moments  walli  from  all  the 

CELEBRATED  MINERAL  FOUNTAINS 

of  this  great  watering  place. 

A  liberal    share    of    patronage    is    most    respectfully 
solicited. 

W.  H.  McCaffrey,  Proprietor. 


SARATOGA    SPRINGS. 


CONGRESS  HALL, 

Erected  on  the  site  of  the  Old  Congress  HaJl, 
Adjoining  Congress  Spring, 

AT  A  COST  OF  FIVE  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS, 

AND 

COVERING  OVER  THREE  ACRES  OF  GROUND, 

IS  NOW  OPEN. 

The  front  is  400X48  feet,  five  stories  high,  with  Freneh 

roof.     The  building  is  divided  into  seven  fire 

proof  compartments,  and  has  been 

erected  in  the  most  thorough 

and  substantial  manner. 

THE  WINGS  ARE  230  BY  50  FEET. 

It  contains  COO  Rooms,  each  furnislicd  with  Bells,  Gas 

and  Water. 

ONK  HXJNIDREID   3PRIVATE    PARLORS. 

The  Dining  Room  is  212  by  50  feet. 

The  Public  Parlors,  Reading  and  Reception  Rooms 

and  Offices,  are  on  a  scale  unsurpassed,  it 

is  believed,  in  this  country. 


H.   H.  HATHORN,   Proprietor. 


TROY,  N.  Y. 


"ami  GatDaisa- 


Guests  conveyed  to  and  from  tlie  Cars  and 
Steamboats  free  of  charge, 


II 


C.  H.  JONES, 


Proprietor. 


p 


TANwix    Wall, 


ji 


and 


ALBAJSTY,  ]Sr.  Y., 


DELAVAN    PECK, 


Proprietor. 


tor. 


HUDSON  RIVER  &  HARLEM  RAILROADS 

FROM 

8  o'clock  Express  Train 
via 

HUDSON  RIVER  RAILROAD, 

Connects  at  TROY  with  mld-dny  trains  for 
SARATOGA,  Ft.  EDWARD  AND  LAKE  GEORGE. 


II  o'clock  Express  via  ITnrlcm  and  lltlO  Express  via  Hudson 
River  Railroad,  connect  at  TROY  with  eveuin<;  traiue  for 

Saratoga,  Wliiteliall,  Lake  George  and  Steamers 
on  Lake  Champlain  to 

lvi:01SrTR,E-A.I-.. 

3:15  via  Iludson  River,  connects  at  TROY  with  Sleeping  Car  for 
Montreal. 

tit'.iO  P.M.  and  11  P.M.,  via  Hudson  River,  with  Sleeping  Car 
nltached,  connect  at  TROY  Willi  morning  trains  for  Saratoga,  Lake 
Ge.irge  and  Laicc  Champlain. 

FROIV1  TROY  TO  NEW  YORK. 

* 

9t  15  A.  M.,  1  1j30  a.  ji.,  3: 15  p.  M.  via  Hudson  River  Railroad. 
4i  1 5  P.  M.,  via  Harlem.    9: 15  p.  u.,  with  Sleeping  Car  attached. 


I.  M.  TOUCEY, 

Stqyt.  Iludson  li.  Ji.  B. 

J.  C.  BUCKHOUT, 

Supt.  Harlem  R.  B, 


lOADS 


ALBANY,   N.  Y. 


DELAVA]^^  HOUSE 


OPEN  ALL  THE  YE  Ail  ROUND! 


JORGE. 


!a  IIudeoD 


imers 


HAS   350   ROOMS. 
INCLUDING  TWENTY  PRIVATE  PARLORS! 

Families  or  parties   traveling    for  pleasure,  will  ahvays 
find  here  the  conveniences  and  comforts  of  a 


ing  Car  for 

icping  Car 
toga,  Lake 


lilroad. 
t  Inched. 


FIRST  CLASS  HOTEL. 

Meals  at  allhours  on  arrival  of  the 
Trains  or  Boats. 


KB. 


CHAS.  E.  LELAND, 

Proprietoic 


/ 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


II 


"  IIIIM    1 2.5 
5.    IIIIIM 


IIIM 

140 


1.8 


1.25      1.4 

1.6 

^ 6"     

► 

V} 


i9 


/}. 


/a 


"cr-l 


e. 


e). 


^3 


//a 


o 


7 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


^ 


'q\^ 


% 


>>-  ^ 


■^  .^  ^ 


o 


Is.  ^ 


-^    ^ 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  87?-4503 


if 


r   W^ 


\ 


ALBANY. 


I 


*!!!* 


IN  THE  VARIOUS  DEPARTMENTS  01" 


lite:k.a.txji^:e. 


tor 


PUBLIC  AND  PRIVATE 


LIBK/j^E/IES. 


Tlicological  ani  Sunday  Sclool  PnMications. 

SCHOOL  BOOKS,  STATIONEET,  BLANK  BOOKS, 


SXERCIOSCOPES  AI%'I>  TIE^VS, 


Chromo-Liithographs,  &c., 


■WHOLESALE  AND  RETAIL. 


38  State  Street,  Albany,  N.  Y. 


ALBANY,  N.  Y. 


To  parties  about  visiting  the  Adirondacks  and  aU  persons  desir- 
ing Fine  Groceries. 

.     4O0EPH  4.  ntU, 

IVo.  75  State  Street, 

Offers,  put  up  in  parcels  to  suit  and  carefully  packed, 

Txirl£lsl>,  Moclia  antl  Java  CoiToo,  Etacon 

and  Smoked  To„g„es,  E,igii«u  and 

^mejlcan  Plcltlos  and  Sancos. 

Tlie  finest  grades  of 

GRESN  AND  BI.AC2C  TEAS, 

CHOICE 

Cincinnati  Sugar  Cured  Hams, 
BRANDENBURGH'S    SALAD    OIL. 

Tlic  finest  Imported 
Preserves    and    Jellies    in    Glass. 


Order,  sent  by  Express,  C.  O.  D.,  carefully  attended  to.  and  prices 
very  reasonable.    Also 

FINEST  BRANDIES,  WINES,  WHISKIES,  SCOTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ALE. 

And  the  best  brands  of 

IMPORTED  AND  DOMESTIC  CIGARS. 


1  I 


ALBANY,  N.  Y. 


TWEDDLE    HALL 


USXG 


TQH 


v. 


85  State  Street., 

KEXT    DOOR    TO    HALL    ENTRANCE. 

J.  COLLIER  &  SON, 

Wholesale  and  Retail  Dealers  in 

SHEET  MUSIC,  MUSIC  BOOKS, 

And  every  variety  of 

MUSICAL     MERCHANDISE. 

diickering-  &,  Sons' 

Grand,  Square,  and  Upright  Piano  Fortes, 
also  Manhattan  Co.,  Emerson, 
and   other  Boston    and  « 

New  York  Makers. 

Sole  Agents  for 

GEO.  A.  PRINCE  &  CO.,  TAYLOR  &  FARLEY,  AND  THE  FAMOUS 
EXCELSIOR  ORGANS  AND  MELODEONS. 

Pabticular  attention  given  to  Renting  of  Pianos,  Organs  and 
Melodeons. 

Pianos  Tuned  and  Repaired.  Piano  Stools  and  Cloths  constantly 
on  hand.  Music  sent  by  mail  free  of  postaze.  All  goods  warranted 
aa  represented,  at  prices  which  defy  competition. 


II 


RENSSHt/lBn  mt  SARATOGA 


Great  Northern  and  Southern  Route 

Connects  with  all  Lines  and  Points. 


TRAlI»irs    GOI7VO    TVOItTH. 


Leave  Albany, 

Schen'tady, 

Troy, 

Saratoga,.. 

Ft.  Edward,    9.53 
Arrive  Whitehall,  ■  11 .22 


7. 1 0  a.  m.,  1 2.50  p.  m.,  5  1 0  p.  m. 


7.30 
7.30 
9.10 


110 
2.50 
3.40 


4.20 
5.20 
7.10 
8.00 
9.53 


TRA^IjVjsj    GOIISG    SOTTTII. 


Leave  Whitehall,..  G.OO  a.m., 

Ft.  Edward,  7.13     " 

Saratoga,...  8.10     " 

Arrive  Troy, 9.40     " 

Schen'tady,.  9.55     " 


4.08  p.m. 

1.10  p.m.,  5.00  " 
205  "  550  " 
3.40  "  7.30  " 
3.55     "       7.40     " 


MORNING  AND  EVENING  TRAINS 

Connect  at  Saratoga  with  Adirondack  Railroad,  at  Moreau 
and  Fort  Edward  with  stages  for  Lake  George,  and  at 
Whitehall  with  steamers  on  Lake  Champlain. 

I.  V.  BAKER, 

Superintendent- 


